Warriors Predicted To Acquire Jimmy Butler In Three-Team Trade By NBA Coach Of The Year

Anthony Pasciolla | Dec 29, 2024

Oct 27, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Golden State Warriors are repeatedly brought up as a top suitor for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

And rightfully so. The Warriors are a huge market organization with assets needed to acquire and extend the six-time All-Star. The lone issue is the Warriors' assets are youthful, something Heat team president Pat Riley is seemingly against. If that's the case, a third team may need to help facilitate the deal.

This is why Sam Mitchell, a former NBA Coach of the Year, proposed the Heat land Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox in a three-team blockbuster.

"If you're the Miami Heat and Pat Riley, do you want to deal with Jimmy Butler at $52 million, who is going to be an unrestricted free agent?" Mitchell questioned on NBA TV. "No, that would be a nightmare scenario, so to me, I think he's going to get moved, and now that things have been happening in Sacramento, Mike Brown, don't be surprised. I smell a Fox in Miami."

"I see a three-team deal with the Warriors," Steve Smith said, to which Mitchell agreed.

In this hypothetical trade, the Warriors land Butler, the Heat acquire Fox, and the Kings enter a rebuild with a plethora of assets from Miami.

---

MORE HEAT NEWS

Heat Could Acquire Lockdown Rising Star By Dealing Jimmy Butler To The Hawks

When Is Jimmy Butler Returning For The Heat? Latest Update Isn't What Fans Hoped For

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.