Eric Bledsoe is finally where he wants to be

Jimmy Butler has blocked trade options to multiple contending teams where he would have been a good fit on the floor and potentially been paid. But Butler has been obsessed with joining the Phoenix Suns, who may be completely incapable of trading for him due to the need to find a trade of Bradley Beal.

The Golden State Warriors are one team who has been informed he doesn’t intend to commit to long-term, while the Memphis Grizzlies are another. The Warriors remain a possibility for Butler if the Heat run out of time before the trade deadline. Golden State has been willing to sign him to an extension.

In the process, Butler has completely torched his relationship with the Miami Heat and been suspended multiple times. The Heat remain motivated to trade Butler, but they are not prepared to make a deal that compromises their cap space for 2026. Butler has a $52 million player option for 25-26 that he could pick up and put himself and the Heat back in the same position they are in now leading to the deadline.