Following Jimmy Butler’s request to be traded out of the Miami Heat, many trade talks have emerged around the disgruntled superstar forward. The Milwaukee Bucks were reported to be linked to Butler, and should a deal push through, it would see him pair up with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
NBA insider Brett Siegel reported on the possibility that Milwaukee can acquire Butler via a trade, pointing out that the Bucks are in the second apron. It means that the Bucks cannot aggregate salaries if they want to trade for the Heat forward. However, the insider also noted that it is feasible to combine player wages to acquire Butler.
As a result, the Bucks must pay out $55.3 million in wages, which is more than Butler has made this season; the six-time NBA All-Star is set to earn $48,798,677 in the 2024-25 NBA season. Siegel made a suggestion for the Bucks to package Bobby Portis, Khris Middleton, and Pat Connaughton, whose salaries total up to $53.6 million, and include MarJon Beauchamp in the package to reach the ideal $55.3 million.
Siegel acknowledged that his suggestion is a difficult yet doable trade.
Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton gets you to $53.6M in total. The magic number for Butler and MIL would be $55.3M to dip below the second apron.
Throw in MarJon Beauchamp as an outgoing salary and you got yourself a scenario where Butler to MIL can happen. https://t.co/N9W4DcxiOl
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) January 6, 2025
The Bucks acquiring Butler would give Lillard and Antetokounmpo a much-needed third scoring option, forming a “big three.” While the Heat star is currently averaging 17.6 points per game this season—one of his lowest since joining Miami—he is still a reliable defensive force.
Jimmy Butler could still return to the Heat after he serves his suspension
The Miami Heat front office suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games after he publicly expressed his desire to leave the team. According to the statement released by the franchise, they suspended him due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”
The Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang reported on Sunday that there is still a chance that Butler stays with the Heat after his suspension. The management have yet to give Butler’s request serious consideration.
“As of now, the Heat is not interested in having Butler remain away from the team while paying him the remainder of his $48.8 million salary for this season after his suspension is over,” Chiang reported.
Heat prepared to bring back Jimmy Butler after suspension if trade doesn’t materialize before then https://t.co/p4guhPiCct The latest on where things stand and what Butler is able to do while the team is on the West Coast
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) January 6, 2025
Butler started serving his suspension after the Heat’s 136-100 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday. He has six remaining games to sit out of and will be able to return to play against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 17.
For more sports content:
Follow me on X at @ErnestLeo, and follow us at @WisconsinHeroics, @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Ernest Hernandez via email at ernestleo@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Ernest also manages a YouTube account called Sports On Air with over 103 thousand subscribers. The channel contains interviews predominantly from the Philippine Basketball Association. They can be reached at sportsonairph@gmail.com.
