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The Miami Heat are navigating Jimmy Butler’s reported desire for a trade under the impression that they can beat out the Boston Celtics for a title this spring, per CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter.
According to Reiter, the Heat “acknowledge the Celtics are the East’s best team but don’t view them as unbeatable.”
Reiter noted that the Heat believe staying out of the play-in round, where the team has competed for two straight seasons, is “critical” to their success this playoff.
The Heat may have to make that run without Butler. After the star said on Thursday that he wasn’t happy playing in Miami, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported on that Butler has “indicated” to the team that he wants a trade.
Charania and Windhorst reported that Butler “is open to playing anywhere other than Miami.”
According to Charania and Windhorst, Butler “does plan to take part in all team activities and do whatever the Heat ask of him during this process.”
The report came days after Heat president Pat Riley made a definitive statement that the team would not trade Butler.
Butler has yet to record double-digit points in two contests back from a five-game illness absence, and he was visibly dispirited in his postgame interview following Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Should Butler’s public dissatisfaction with the situation in Miami force Riley’s hand, the franchise’s view of themselves as title contenders will shape the return they will seek for Butler.
According to Reiter, the Heat decided in internal talks that the team is looking for “a key piece to help them win now” in a potential trade for Butler.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel recently reported that the Heat have expressed interest in Jonathan Kuminga during trade talks with the Golden State Warriors, but that the Warriors “have not been eager to include him in trade discussions.”
Charania previously reported that Butler’s agent had indicated he would prefer a trade to the Warriors, Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks, but the latest report from Charania and Windhorst states he is willing to be traded to any team.
Although limited to dealing with teams who could take on Butler’s $49 million salary for this season, in addition to his $52 million player option for 2025-26, that will allow the Heat maximum flexibility to find a trade that will boost their status as a contender by Feb. 6.
