NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler Viewed As Possible Trade Candidate If Heat Struggle In Playoffs

As the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat have high expectations for the 2022 NBA playoffs. If the team fails to make a deep postseason run, it could look to make significant changes.

Jimmy Butler could be at the center of those potential changes, according to some within the NBA. Rival executives and players have speculated that the Heat might trade Butler on the heels of an early playoff exit, The Athletic reports.

The report comes less than a month after Butler and Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra had a heated exchange during a timeout in Miami’s 118-104 loss against the Golden State Warriors. The two men had to be separated after Spoelstra asked Butler if he wanted to fight. Heat veteran Udonis Haslem confronted Butler during the incident.

The near-fight occurred during the second game of a four-game losing streak for Miami. The Heat would then go 6-1 to conclude the season for the best record in the East.

Early in the 2021-2022 season, the idea of Miami even considering a trade involving Butler seemed unthinkable. Butler signed a four-year, $184 million contract extension in the summer, committing himself to the Heat through the 2025-2026 season.

It was only 18 months ago that Butler and the Heat pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to six games in the 2020 NBA Finals. Butler went toe-to-toe with LeBron James for much of the series, averaging 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Butler didn’t come close to matching those numbers when Miami was swept in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. The veteran is the Heat’s leading scorer with 21.4 points per game, but he missed 25 games in the regular season

Miami will play the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks or Charlotte Hornets in the first-round of the playoffs. It’s highly unlikely that the Heat will be upset by any of those teams. There’s a good chance that the Heat would win a second-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers or Toronto Raptors, Miami’s two possible opponents.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets have better championship odds in the East than the Heat.

The Heat are Butler’s fourth franchise since 2017. Butler forced a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018-2019 season. After playing 55 regular-season games and two playoff rounds with the 76ers, Butler forced a sign-and-trade to Miami.

Butler tends to raise his game in the playoffs, where his scoring, rebounding and assist averages all improve. It's hard to imagine the Heat trading Butler if that trend continues.