Jimmy Butler trade

The Heat don't like their position in Jimmy Butler trade talks, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Not shocking. The Heat tried to trade Butler then, after gauging the market, announced they wouldn't trade him, clearly finding no offers good enough. Then, Butler demanded a trade, and Miami suspended him, further dropping his stock.

Teams see a distressed asset. Of course, they're trying to buy low.

But it takes only one. The top bidder will set the market, not the bulk of teams trying to get Butler cheap.

Jimmy Butler-Suns

The one team not trying to lowball Miami, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN? Phoenix.

It helps that the Suns have so little to offer. Their best at-all reasonable offer is nearly already a lowball.

Bradley Beal is the only feasible matching salary. But the Heat don't want his contract, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. That's tough to overcome with only one tradeable future first-round pick.

Jimmy Butler-Heat

Ira Winderman of the South Florida SunSentinel: Jimmy Butler will not play again for the Heat, even if not traded by the end of his seven-game suspension. Counter-report, via Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald: The Heat expect Butler to play for them if still on the team at the end of his suspension.

Though I am definitely not certain, I trust Chiang's report more. It's more recent, and he attributes his info to "sources," which – while anonymous – are at least something. Winderman might have just been pontificating, though he is also plugged-in.

I really wonder: Did the Heat change their stance over the last day or two? Did they plan to banish Butler until they found a trade, realize they might never get a good offer then adjust?

Jimmy Butler

Thought-provoking article from Matt Moore at FanSided, arguing: No team should trade for Jimmy Butler.

I strongly disagree. Only slightly with Moore's main point that whichever team trades for Butler will regret it. That team very well could regret it.

But a dozen or so teams will fall short of their short-term goals this season and next. And I believe there's a good chance Butler would have significantly elevated at least a couple of them.

Which teams is harder to say with certainty. That's why any individual team can talk itself out of trading for Butler, as Moore advocates each do.

But to win big in this league, teams must take chances. The teams that always play it safe, never swing for the fences will never win it all. While avoiding catastrophe, they effectively eliminate themselves from the race by never entering it. They can laugh at some of the runners who fall on their face – but they're laughing from the sidelines.

I'd rather my team take bold action.

Is Butler the right fit for every team? No. But sometimes, a move with only a 20% chance of working out is better than staying the course toward a known underwhelming finish.

Jimmy Butler-Warriors

The Warriors would rather keep Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga than trade for Jimmy Butler, according to Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson II and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

As Nate has said, Wiggins – six years younger, on a cheaper contract – is probably a more-valuable asset than Butler. But that shouldn't be the only consideration.

Stephen Curry might still be good enough to lead Golden State to meaningful playoff success. While that's the case, the Warriors should prioritize the present. And Butler is probably a better player right now than Wiggins.

There's room to debate fit. Spacing with Butler and Draymond Green would be clunky.

But constructing a roster isn't just about optimizing overall value. Timing matters. Sometimes, it's worth sacrificing overall value to get the better player for a moment that matters.

If Golden State trades for Butler and it turns out Curry is too old… Oh, well. Not ideal. But not trading for Butler (or some other upgrade) then realizing Curry was still capable of propping open the title window would be disastrous.

Besides, if Wiggins is more valuable than Butler, the Warriors could demand more back than just Butler in a trade. They just don't sound like they're interested in that direction at all.

Nikola Vucevic-Warriors

There is more buzz about Golden State trading for Nikola Vucevic, according to The Athletic.

How disappointing.

Vucevic is skilled offensively. He probably won't hold up defensively deep in the playoffs. Though they can't play that way all the time, the Warriors are still best with Draymond Green at center.

Why trade for a floor-raiser who won't play in the biggest moments?

Golden State either sees Vucevic and/or itself much differently than I do.

Phoenix Suns

There's tension in the Suns' locker room, according to Chris Haynes. Phoenix removed Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup for Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee against Philadelphia tonight.

Nothing creates tension like losing. The Suns have dropped 7-of-8 and four straight.

But demoting someone with the stature of Beal is a drastic response. In basketball terms, it might make sense. In ego terms… good luck, Mike Budenholzer.

Hard not to wonder whether Phoenix took this step, at least in part, to persuade Beal to exercise his no-trade clause.

Dunc'd On Live

Watch Nate's and Danny's facial reactions to Victor Wembanyama being the best player on the court of a game that included Nikola Jokic, recording on a Friday when the Jimmy Butler news broke on a Friday and the Heat suspending Butler… plus them actually recording a podcast about those things:

Jonathan Kuminga

Just after Nate and Danny discussed whether Jonathan Kuminga was breaking out… Kuminga will miss at least three weeks with a sprained right ankle, the Warriors announced.

What a bummer.

Dunc'd On Live

Nate and Danny reveal the truth about their facial expressions (shhh!) and make their award picks:

-Dan Feldman