The 2024-2025 NBA season is getting nearer and media days and coaching camps are beginning to get underway across the league. The offseason is at a standstill, with few main modifications made because the begin of the summer time and it’ll probably keep that means till the commerce deadline and even subsequent offseason. That being stated, there are some potentialities.
Though it appears unlikely, the potential for the Miami Warmth buying and selling Jimmy Butler exists. He has a participant choice for subsequent season and will or could not stick with the Warmth long-term. Our personal Rohan Raman wrote earlier this offseason a couple of potential butler commerce:
“Butler’s future has been quietly referred to as into query all through this offseason as he considers a long-term deal to stay in Miami. ESPN’s Bobby Markshe can signal for a most two-year, $112.9 million extension with the Warmth. Nevertheless, Warmth president Pat Riley has not dedicated to securing Butler for the foreseeable future. He had this to say in June after the Warmth had been eradicated by the Boston Celtics within the first spherical:
“We didn’t talk about it. [a Butler extension] internally for the time being. We have to take into account making this type of dedication and after we will make it. Actually, we can’t must do it till 2025. However we’ll see. We’ve not decided about it and we’ve not actually mentioned it critically. »
He additionally commented on Butler’s availability, which has been a lingering query over the previous few seasons. Butler will quickly be 35 and narrowly missed the complete playoffs with a knee harm. He additionally by no means performed in over 65 common season video games as a member of the Warmth.
“It is a massive choice on our half to commit these sorts of sources except you have got somebody who will likely be there and obtainable each night time. It is the reality.
If the Warmth determine to maneuver Butler, would the Hawks be a vacation spot? They have not been talked about a lot in these discussions, however Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale listed the Hawks as a possible shock vacation spot for Butler:
“Jimmy Butler did not signal an extension with the Miami Warmth this offseason and has a participant choice for 2025-26. Possibly he’ll choose it up. Possibly he and the staff will decide their future collectively subsequent summer time.
Or possibly, simply possibly, Miami’s present window has run its course and the entrance workplace is contemplating taking a extra complete strategy.
Admirers will not be onerous to seek out if Butler enters the rumor mill. All the same old suspects will likely be introduced up, particularly the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
However what concerning the Atlanta Hawks?
Clearing draft picks turns into sophisticated as San Antonio controls its subsequent three first rounds. However that solely provides the Hawks extra incentive to go for it now. They’ll put collectively a fairly aggressive package deal due to the firsts they obtained for Dejounte Murray in addition to the extra distant first rounds they’ve.
Miami might insist on getting Zacharie Risacher or Jalen Johnson. Atlanta ought to draw a line beneath them. Butler simply turned 35 and is nearing the top of his contract. The Warmth’s affect is proscribed. Amassing a handful of digestible contracts, gamers like Onyeka Okongwu (who might be flipped since Miami has Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware), Dyson Daniels and Kobe Bufkin and a number of other firsts is a viable return.
Whether or not Butler turns Atlanta right into a near-contender is one other matter. The identical goes for a way his evil aggressive streak meshes with Trae Younger. However the two are undoubtedly a dynamite couple on the courtroom.
Younger has extra off-ball potential than he is at all times proven, and Butler is somebody to whom ceding partial offensive management is smart. Between Risacher, Butler himself, Vit Krejčí and doubtlessly Daniels, the Hawks would even have a line in direction of some fairly intriguing defensive combos round their ground common. »
I truly suppose the Hawks make sense as a vacation spot for Butler if the worth was proper, however getting Butler on a budget in all probability is not going to occur. The Hawks usually are not a Butler commerce away from being a Finals contender and gifting away the draft picks and younger gamers they’ve for a 35 yr outdated, even one pretty much as good as Butler, shouldn’t be a great choice. If the worth was proper, the Hawks could possibly be a shock staff.
