NBA Champion Unsure Why Jimmy Butler Wary of Joining Title Contender

Jake Elman | Jan 28, 2025

Jan 24, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Vince Williams Jr. (5) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Trade rumors continue linking Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and the Phoenix Suns ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins agrees Butler should join a Western Conference contender. He’s just not sure the Suns are the right team.

Instead, Perkins wants to see Butler trade his Heat threads for a Memphis Grizzlies uniform.

“I feel like this is the best destination for Jimmy Butler,” Perkins said Monday.

“I feel like [Memphis] is the best destination for Jimmy Butler. I don’t know why Jimmy doesn’t want to be in Memphis. They’re already one of the best teams in the West, but I might pick the Grizzlies to go to the Finals if Jimmy Butler was on this team.” -@KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/DNZKPdAF6h

— Dru (@dru_star) January 27, 2025

There’s one problem. A narrative persists that Butler doesn’t want to play in Memphis.

Butler reportedly wants to team up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the Suns.

Perkins said he’s not sure why Butler wouldn’t want to join a Grizzlies team with an established young core.

“If you think about the core four that they would have—Desmond Bane, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jimmy Butler … I might pick the Grizzlies to go to the Finals if Jimmy Butler was on this team,” Perkins declared.

Memphis entered play Tuesday at 31-16, only one game behind Houston for second place in the Western Conference. 

CHARANIA PROVIDES BUTLER UPDATE

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania says the Heat aren’t wasting any time trying to find a suitor for Butler. 

“I’m told the Heat remain engaged with multiple teams on potential Jimmy Butler deals,” Charania reported Monday. “That remain will so over the next week and a half.”

But?

“They have not yet received an offer that matches their asking price,” Charania said.

Miami suspended Butler on Monday for the third time this month. Butler walked out of practice Monday, hours before a double-overtime home victory against the Orlando Magic.

The Heat previously punished Butler for violating team rules and missing a team flight. He’s missed Miami’s last three games.

Butler requested a trade Jan. 2.

“The phone lines in Miami have been wide open ever since this entire saga began earlier this month,” Charania said. 

COULD BULLS ENTER BUTLER SWEEPSTAKES?

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst reported Monday the Chicago Bulls are “absolutely involved” in trade conversations involving Butler. 

There’s a catch, though. Although Butler played for the Bulls from 2011-17, Windhorst said a reunion isn’t on the table.

“Not that Jimmy Butler would end in Chicago,” Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective, “But they would get involved in the trade.” 

If the Bulls do get involved, they’d do so as a third team to help make salaries work. Windhorst pitched the idea the Bulls could acquire Suns guard Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause and a $53.6 million cap hit next season. 

Beal also owns a $57.1 million player option for the 2027 season, the final year of the five-year contract he signed in 2022. 

Windhorst acknowledged he can’t see the Bulls doing that deal.

“Maybe it’s never gonna happen, but it’s been discussed,” Windhorst said.

Co-host Tim Bontemps didn’t hide his opinion.

“I hope they don’t because it’d be one of the dumbest trades ever,” Bontemps argued.

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Jake Elman works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at jakeelman97@gmail.com or follow him on X @JakeElman97.