The Jimmy Butler saga continues as the trade deadline looms.
The NBA trade deadline is on the horizon. Within the next month, teams will make the final trades of the season as they make a push for the postseason, contention or even a high lottery draft position. Either way, massive decisions will be made in the next month.
For the Miami Heat, it’s time to cut the losses and move on from Jimmy Butler. The superstar has led the club to the NBA Finals on two occasions, though his relationship with Pat Riley and the organization’s leadership has become sour.
The situation has become quite public, and it’ll only get more weird if the Heat struggle to strike a deal before the deadline, though that’s a real possibility if Butler doesn’t have a strong trade market. There is one team that should get in on a move for Butler, though.
There might be a few suitors for the Heat superstar. Some will pursue more aggressively than others, though it’s hard to imagine any team pushes too many assets or trade chips into the move, given Butler’s age and contract status.
However, according to ex-NBA star Stephen Jackson, there is one move, in particular, that would make loads of sense for Butler, as he revealed on “ALL THE SMOKE.”
“The Spurs is the only spot. That way he can end his career, get a great contract and possibly have a chance to win a championship,” Jackson claimed.
“He can bring toughness to a team that don’t have no toughness, him and Chris Paul could be great together.
“It would be a great move for him, that’s the only move.
“I think the only way he can go somewhere where he can feel like a pro, feel like a champion, get his money, and finish the right way, I think it would be San Antonio. And he’s from Texas.”
Evidently, there should be some level of interest in this move from Butler’s standpoint. The San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, a young phenom, and Chris Paul, a veteran and future Hall of Fame point guard. Butler could slot in and help the 18-18 Spurs make a hefty playoff push, and maybe even find some incredible playoff success.
As Jackson pitched the trade, it would be quite a good fit for Butler at this point in his career. He could make an impact on a young team turning a corner as a franchise, embodying a style of play that, in conjunction with Paul, helps take Wembanyama to new heights.
The Spurs, however, should only be interested in this move depending on the price. Gone are the days of rebuilding to the extent of landing a top pick. They solidified that in year two with Wembanyama, as they’ll be too good to land good odds for a top NBA draft pick.
So, if the Spurs can get Butler for a cheap price, they can use his stardom and postseason play to help lift the team to a new level as soon as this season. His two-way play, alongside Wembanyama, would be incredible. Add Paul into the mold offensively, and Butler would be able to get to all of his spots and make incredible plays.
San Antonio could become a bit of a playoff threat should they acquire the superstar, though Butler being 35-years-old should bring some reservations. Having an opt-in price of $52 million for next year could also shy the Spurs away from this move.
Again, it all comes down to price. The Heat aren’t going to get their desired trade package, but it’ll boil down to how much the Spurs can offer while getting the forward from the Heat and out-bidding other clubs’ offers.
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