Jimmy Butler trade: Heat wing told team he’d pick up $52.4M option, but only to facilitate move, per report

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The team announced that he’s being let go due to multiple incidents that have negatively impacted the team this season and specifically the last few weeks.

They are the only team that projects to have the free agent cap space to offer him a maximum contract, but they’re not a priority for him. If Miami can’t find a trade they like before the February 6 deadline or a sign-and-trade deal they prefer over the summer, Pat Riley can choose to let him walk, gaining the team more flexibility:

He’s aware that it would be tricky for the Heat to have that $52.4 million on their books, so in this situation, the possibility of picking up the option could give him some bargaining power. This isn’t much different from what James Harden did in the 2023 offseason when he wanted to leave Philadelphia; that scenario unraveled later on, though.

One concern is that taking this option would put off Butler’s next multi-year contract until later. Since Butler has already played for 14 years, this is a long-term risk.

Is there another issue? It’s unclear that Miami’s lack of urgency is the reason Butler remains on the roster. The Heat have stated they’re open to trade offers, but two days before his suspension ends, no offers appear to be appealing. If this doesn’t change in the next few weeks, the Heat may need to work with Butler in the offseason, even if he picks up his option. Unless the Heat believe the trade market in the offseason is much better, there’s no reason for them to make a bad trade now.