Day: January 3, 2025

The Brooklyn Nets held a bidding way between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies when they traded Dorian Finney-Smith. There were “hard feelings emanating from the both the Grizzlies and the Nets for the way it played out,” reports ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Brooklyn traded Finney-Smith to the Lakers for D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second round picks.

The Grizzlies were reportedly close to a trade with the Nets for Finney-Smith with them sending a top-17 protected first round pick in 2025 as part of the package. The Nets, however, were going to send back a second round pick. Brooklyn also would have took back the salaries of John Konchar and Luke Kennard.

Memphis has also been linked with Cameron Johnson, who the Nets have maintained will go for a higher price than Finney-Smith.

Now that the Jimmy Butler situation reached the inevitable trade request from Butler, the Miami Heat have decisions to make. One thing Miami has made certain: They won’t take back salary they can’t move in a deal for Butler.

For years, NBA teams have operated as though you can’t let a player leave without getting anything in return. Last summer, the LA Clippers used the savings from letting Paul George walk to rebuild their depth. LA dropped under the luxury tax for the first time in a few years. They used that flexibility to add several players to round out their roster.

The Heat could take a similar path by letting Butler leave in free agency. There’s also the matter of few teams projecting to have available cap space this summer. The only team that projects to have max space is the Brooklyn Nets, who are rebuilding. Despite having been linked together, would Butler sign with a rebuilding Nets team? If not, then the Heat would have to be agreeable to a sign-and-trade scenario.

One rival GM put it best while explaining Miami still has control.

“The Heat make mistakes and sometimes have issues with players just like everyone else,” the GM said. “But they do not get pushed around.”

Jimmy Butler has informed the Miami Heat he wants to be traded, sources tell Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Butler does not plan to offer a list of preferred teams as he open to playing anywhere other than the Heat. Butler will continue to take part in all team activities and do whatever the Heat ask him during this process.

Butler scored just nine points in the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.

“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I’m happy here off the court but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win and right now I’m not doing it.”

The Heat have been adamant they do not plan to trade Butler, who has previously been linked with the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. The Heat have had preliminary trade talks with several teams, but have shown no urgency in those discussions.

Pat Riley and Micky Arison have also met with Butler’s representation in recent days to resolve the divide without success.

Butler is in the final year of a contract paying him $49 million this season, and he has a player option for next season for $52 million.