The Bradley Beal-to-Bucks Jimmy Butler trade is getting louder
Jimmy Butler made his intentions to leave clear Miami Heatbut with his price tag of nearly $50 million, it’s anything but easy to trade Butler. However, the only team that can, is the Phoenix Sunswho were apparently trying to trade Bradley Beal in exchange for Butler. That has so far failed, allegedly due to Miami’s lack of interest, but the involvement of the Milwaukee Bucks may end up closing the deal.
According to reports, the Heat prioritized cap flexibility in their trade talks involving Butler, who is making $48.8 million this year and, if he picks up his player option in June, would make $52.4 million. Whether Butler would actually decline that option, especially if teams are unable or unwilling to offer him a lucrative long-term contract, remains to be seen.
Remaining flexible with their cap space would likely mean the Heat don’t want to acquire Beal from the Suns, as Beal makes $50.2 million this year, $53.7 million next season and $57.1 million in 2026-27, under provided he chooses the player’s option on the last one. Additionally, even if Miami were interested, Beal would have to be because he has a no-trade clause, a rarity among NBA players that allows him to veto any potential trade involving him.
It appears, however, that Milwaukee could be interested in acquiring Beal as part of a multi-team trade. They would just have to make at least one move to do so.
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“One scenario, told to @ClutchPoints by two different league sources, involves Butler going to PHX and MIL moving from the other apron by moving Connaughton to TOR,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “This then turns into Bruce Brown/Chris Middleton for MIA, Beal/Love for MIL, Portis/Connaughton for TOR. The draft elections would obviously go to MUP and TOR.
However, Athletic reported today yes while it is Bucks ‘worth watching’ as potential third team in Butler-to-Suns trade, Beal and Phoenix have yet to talk about waiving its no-trade clause. Additionally, moving Middleton would also likely be a difficult decision for Milwaukee given Middleton’s relationship with star Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as his contributions to the team, including being a key part of the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship.
If the Bucks decide to sign him, or the Bills decide not to waive their no-trade clause, it’s unknown exactly what will happen to Butler, if anything. Phoenix won’t have the cap space to sign Butler to any deal they want in the offseason as a free agent, making the next few weeks before the Feb. 6 trade deadline even more important.
2025-01-22 16:54:00
