Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat star, reportedly “prefers” to be traded to another team before the NBA trade deadline on February 6, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. However, despite his preference, Butler has not formally requested a trade from the Heat.
The 35-year-old veteran, now in his 14th NBA season, has been with the Miami Heat since 2019. While the team is reportedly open to listening to trade offers for Butler, his primary goal is to join a “win-now contender.” Potential landing spots include high-profile teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Rockets.
Butler’s future with the Heat appears uncertain after the two sides failed to agree on a contract extension this summer. His current deal includes a $52 million player option for next season, but Charania reports that Butler does not plan to exercise that option, setting him up to become a free agent in July. This season, Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
During his tenure in Miami, Butler has been a cornerstone for the team’s success. The Heat reached the NBA Finals twice with Butler leading the way — first in 2020, where they lost 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the COVID-19 bubble Finals, and again in 2023, falling 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets. Despite these deep playoff runs, the championship ring Butler has long pursued has remained elusive.
The Heat have been a playoff fixture for most of Butler’s time with the team, missing the postseason only once since his arrival. That lone absence came during the 2023-24 season, though Miami currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-13 record, comfortably above the play-in cutoff.
Trading Butler before the deadline would give the Heat an opportunity to recoup assets before he potentially departs as a free agent. However, Miami could also opt to keep Butler in the hopes of making one last push for the NBA Finals alongside key players Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Regardless of how the situation unfolds, the Butler era in Miami may be nearing its conclusion, leaving fans and the league speculating about the star’s next move.