The best landing spots for disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler

It can Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat return under compatible conditions?

In the words of Butler himself: “probably not.” And after Thursday night to report it Butler would prefer to be tradedand a statement Friday night from the Heat that the five-time All-NBA the winner was suspended seven games for “conduct detrimental to the team,” Butler’s days in South Beach appear to be numbered.

Butler, 35, is averaging his fewest points per game (17.6) since 2013-14 and is expected to test unrestricted free agency this summer, but a team willing to take that risk with him he could be rewarded in a big way in the postseason.

Here are the top three deals for Butler:

Grizzlies with no. 2 seeds are firing on all cylinders this season — but do you know when else they’ve been “rolling”? The 2021-22 season and the one that followed. Those two seasons ended with exits in the second and first rounds of the playoffs, and in embarrassing fashion. Memphis could swing Butler to get over the hump.

Yes, the Grizzlies lead the NBA in scoring (123.5 points per game) and don’t rely too heavily on any one player, even I Morant. Jaren Jackson Jr., who is averaging a team-high 22.3 points per game, has become an NBA-caliber player; Desmond Bane can handle the rock, attack the post and knock down perimeter shots; beginner center Zach Edey was plug-and-play; Saint Aldama, Jaylen Wells and Scottie Pippen Jr continue to progress.

At the same time, Butler would be a veteran, star addition to a lively core that hasn’t entered its collective prime. The experienced Butler is a true scorer who has been part of two teams that have reached the NBA Finals and been in the playoffs with four different teams (Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ersheat). Furthermore, he wouldn’t be asked to be the Grizzlies’ primary scorer, but rather someone who serves as a secondary source of offense but can still carry that scoring load on a nightly basis. The Grizzlies have talent. What they need is a veteran key.

Memphis could send Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar and Miami’s first-round pick for Butler in 2026. While Smart and Clark are valued members of head coach Taylor Jenkins’ rotation, Butler provides an offensive element they haven’t had in recent years, a proven isolation shooter from the outside. Miami gets a pair of current rotation players, if not starters, and a first-rounder for their problems.

However, the Grizzlies may prefer not to make a drastic trade in the midst of an encouraging season, but rather let the season play out and consider pursuing Butler or a similar player in the offseason.

Magic is 21-15 with Paolo Banchero (italics) having played only five games, Franz Wagner (oblique) staying indefinitely i Moritz Wagner (torn ACL) is now out for the season. That’s nothing short of significant, but the wheels will fly off the vehicle at some point if Orlando doesn’t get closer to full strength or move at the trade deadline. Enter Butler.

Orlando is second in the NBA in points given up (103.4 points per game), but is also last in scoring (105.6 points per game). Butler strengthens the defensive identity and adds a necessary source of offense. Wagner should be back in the near future, and Banchero shouldn’t be far off. Once both players are back in the lineup, the Banchero-Butler-Wagner trio would be fruitful.

Banchero is a new star — in fact, he was an All-Star in his second season — who just led the Magic to a Game 7 first-round playoff matchup against Cleveland Cavaliers as their leading scorer, with 27.0 points per game in that series; he plays and looks the part. Wagner has become more productive in each of his four NBA seasons and plays aggressively; he is averaging a career-high 24.4 points per game.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned scoring trio would be completed by veterans like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wendell Carter Jr., creation Jalen Suggs and a newcomer Tristan da Silva. Orlando already has a fierce group. Butler could be the missing piece that makes a surging Magic team an NBA title contender.

Orlando could send Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris and a pair of future second-rounders in Miami for Butler. While it may be a high price on a player for a potential rental, Orlando trades two players who don’t want to board a piece of the team’s long-term future for a player who could be the final piece of the puzzle. From Miami’s perspective, they’re getting two potential starters and a package that’s more about retooling than rebuilding.

Despite all those positives, however, the Magic may not be able to get this team 100 percent healthy and on the same page, which makes waiting until the offseason to make a move of this magnitude an advantage. In addition, there is another team on the rise that only makes a a little more sense for Butler.

The Rockets are primed to take off (don’t cringe at the pun, embrace it), and Butler could be the player that puts them over the top.

Houston is the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a young core at its helm Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green and one that was supplemented by signing two offseasons ago Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Now is the time for Team Name Udoka to make a blockbuster move.

Sengun can score in a variety of ways and Green is fearless off the dribble, but the Rockets need more offensive power to make a deep playoff run. Butler would take on a similar role with the Rockets to the one he took on with the Heat in 2019, serving as the focal point for a team with young players such as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herrowho now appear poised to become the co-face of Miami’s post-Butler operation.

Butler will likely become Houston’s go-to player in crunch time. Over time, Green, Amen Thompson, Tara Eason and more could benefit from Butler getting that attention and having a successful scorer like Butler to lean on. Houston is an elite defensive team (surrendering 106.7 points per game, which is third in the NBA). Butler fits that identity, but more importantly, he gives the Rockets a proven scoring threat that has performed at an elite level in the postseason.

Houston could trade Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr. (suffered a hand injury and will miss the next month) i Steven Adams for Butler. Although he is a former No. 3 pick and a tantalizing offensive player, Smith underperformed with the Rockets and likely doesn’t have the runway to do so in Houston given its young depth. The Heat can give Smith that runway and also get an immediate starter in Brooks. Houston is making a move with an NBA title in mind, and Miami is pivoting in a smart way.

The Rockets would have some insight into keeping Butler if he does indeed opt out after this season. They also have plenty of ammunition to pull off another seismic trade of both young players and first-rounders. Landing Butler could be just the beginning for the Rockets.

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