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With the clock ticking on the Miami Heat to find a trade partner for Jimmy Butler before the Feb. 6 deadline, the New Orleans Pelicans have at least kicked the tires on an offer for the six-time All-Star.
Per NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Pelicans “registered interest” in a Butler trade and could build a “firm offer” around Brandon Ingram’s expiring contract.
The Heat side of this would make perfect sense since they almost certainly want to be out of the Butler business after suspending him for the third time this month due to a continued pattern of detrimental conduct.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this week on SportsCenter that the Heat have dropped their asking price for Butler because they are “really, really trying” to get a deal done.
One of the main priorities for Miami’s front office in any deal seems to be avoiding bringing back any contract of significant value that runs beyond the 2025-26 season. The organization is focusing on cap space in the summer of 2026 when several top stars can become free agents, per Windhorst and Tim Bontemps.
Ingram would certainly fit that criteria since he is playing on a $36 million expiring salary this season.
The problem with this potential scenario is the fit between Butler and New Orleans. Even though Butler doesn’t have a no-trade clause, he could simply refuse to report to a team that he doesn’t want to play for.
All indications are that Butler wants to end up with the Phoenix Suns, and they are trying desperately to figure out a way to make it happen. But it’s going to be incredibly difficult simply because the Suns don’t have any financial wiggle room and very limited assets because of what they’ve already given up to bring in Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
The idea of Butler choosing to play for a Pelicans team that has the second-worst record in the Western Conference (12-36) seems far-fetched. There’s also no financial benefit for the Pelicans because Butler is making nearly $49 million this season, so they wouldn’t be saving any money moving off Ingram’s contract.
Since Butler is the better player in this scenario, the Pelicans might also have to attach draft capital to a deal to make it work. Their current spot in the standings means they don’t need to be getting rid of any future picks.
Barring some grand plan by Pelicans general manager Bryson Graham that will get the team back to being a playoff contender next season, nothing about this makes sense unless there’s a second step in which they flip Butler for a good return that the Heat wouldn’t want to accept.
All of the questions about Butler have to be answered soon because the trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 6.
