Inside The Nuggets

Latest Report on Potential Jimmy Butler to Denver Nuggets Trade

The Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat remain involved in NBA trade rumors.

Joey Linn

Jun 1, 2023; Denver, CO, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shake hands before the game in game one of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena.
Jun 1, 2023; Denver, CO, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shake hands before the game in game one of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler wants a trade. Expected to enter free agency after this season, Butler has a player option that gives him a level of leverage. That said, if the Heat feel financial flexibility is more valuable than what teams are offering for their All-Star forward, there is leverage on their end as well.

One team that continues to come up in trade rumors surrounding Butler is the Denver Nuggets. Sitting at 19-13, Denver has been trending in the right direction after a slow start to the year, and sits just two losses back from second in the Western Conference standings.

Could the 2023 NBA champions shake things up and bring in Butler?

Nikola Jokic and Jimmy Butler
Jun 7, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reaches for the ball against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the first half in game three of the 2023 NBA Finals at Kaseya Center. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Per a recent report from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, talk around the league continues linking Butler to Denver.

Via Siegel: “While Denver has shot down all speculation regarding Porter's uncertain status with the team, talk amongst league circles still links a potential Butler trade to the Nuggets.”

It is important to note that speculation around the league does not indicate the actual plans of an organization. That said, it is interesting that a potential Butler to Denver deal reportedly remains something league circles are eyeing.

As Siegel noted, any Butler deal for Denver would likely require Michael Porter Jr., which is something the Nuggets have indicated no willingness to do. This makes sense, because parting with Porter and his shooting ability for another non-spacer would be a confusing move for a team already lacking three-point shooters.

While Butler is a better overall player than Porter, he is nine years older, has availability concerns, and has never been much of a shooting threat.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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