ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that the Phoenix Suns have emerged as a trade destination for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. Following his report, Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, called him out on X (formerly Twitter) for the inacuracy of his report.
However, Suns reporter Gerald Bourguet confirmed the organization isn’t looking to make noise in the trade market. Bourguet reported both teams will have difficulty executing a trade due to their financial restrictions.
“Per a source, the Suns aren’t pursuing a Jimmy Butler trade. Aside from the obvious difficulties with both the Suns and the Heat being tax apron teams that I already pointed out, Phoenix believes in their Big 3 and what they’ve seen from this group (11-2) when healthy,” Bourguet confirmed on X.
Per a source, the Suns aren't pursuing a Jimmy Butler trade. Aside from the obvious difficulties with both the Suns and the Heat being tax apron teams that I already pointed out, Phoenix believes in their Big 3 and what they've seen from this group (11-2) when healthy
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 12, 2024
The reporter explained the financial complications that would hold back a trade.
“To clarify a hypothetical question RE: trade math: Neither the Suns nor Heat can take back more $ as tax apron teams. PHX could take Jimmy Butler’s $48.8M salary in exchange for any one of the Big 3’s salary, but MIA couldn’t take that salary back, since it’s more than Butler’s.”
“That means MIA would need to add more outgoing $. A vet minimum gets the job done, and it’s a loophole since vet mins don’t count as aggregating salary. So the Heat *could* attach a vet minimum in a deal to make the math work, but again, the Suns aren’t trading Book, KD or Beal.”
That means MIA would need to add more outgoing $. A vet minimum gets the job done, and it's a loophole since vet mins don't count as aggregating salary. So the Heat *could* attach a vet minimum in a deal to make the math work, but again, the Suns aren't trading Book, KD or Beal
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 12, 2024
Aside from the Suns, Charania reported the Heat are linked to trade Butler to teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. The six-time All-Star is on his sixth season with Miami, averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
The Suns, on the other hand, is focused on having their All-Star trio healthy to contend for the NBA championship.
The Phoenix Suns have limited options in the trade market
The Phoenix Suns are a team that’s within the 2nd apron, which restricts them from making major trades in their roster. Because of their limiatations, there are only a few teams the franchise can execute a trade with this season.
There are only a few options for the Suns when making a trade that involves teams in the 1st and 2nd apron. For the 1st apron teams, Phoenix can only make trades with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
2nd apron teams that can make trades with the Suns are the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
