NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts late in the fourth quarter … [+]
Amid reports indicating Jimmy Butler prefers a trade out of Miami, Heat President Pat Riley issued a definitive statement on Thursday.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said. “Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Christmas “the Heat are willing to listen to trade offers for Butler, and that Butler wants a win-now contender in any deal. Butler has not formally requested a trade, sources said, but is believed to be ready for his exit.”
Heat beat writer Ira Winderman posted on social media that “at no point has Butler requested or demanded a trade.”
Butler is making $49 million this season and has a player option for $52 million next season, but his intention is to become a free agent, ESPN reported.
The Rockets, Mavericks, Warriors and Suns have been linked to the six-time NBA All-Star.
The Rockets and Mavericks have not shown “tangible interest” in making a deal for Butler, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported.
The Suns are reportedly interested but could only trade Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Windhorst added that Beal — who is owed $110 million over the next two years — would have to waive his no-trade clause to make this happen. He also pointed out that Beal wanted to go to Miami when he was with Washington but that the Heat did not want him.
As for the Warriors, they would likely have to trade Dennis Schroder, newly acquired from the Brooklyn Nets without giving up a first-round pick, along with Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins.
