We’re inching closer to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6, so of course the rumors are heating up around the league. The center of attention is obviously Jimmy Butler who was recently suspended for two games by the Miami Heat. It feels as though a divorce between the two sides is inevitable, but it won’t be easy as Butler’s preferred choice in the Phoenix Suns lacks assets to pull it off.
We’ve seen teams pull off the impossible before, and Butler’s situation may be no different. With that in mind, here’s all the latest on Butler as well as the rest of the rumors circulating around the league.
Wizards, Pistons could help facilitate Butler trade to Phoenix
At this point, it feels like Butler getting traded to Phoenix is more of a when than if, but the “when” is still resting on two very important pieces. Bradley Beal has to waive his no-trade clause for any of this to work for Phoenix, and the most recent update is that the Suns haven’t talked to Beal about any trade scenarios. Now, let’s say Beal does waive that clause; the next part is finding other teams willing to help the Suns pull off what is expected to be a complicated trade. However, Phoenix may already have a few teams willing to get in on this deal, specifically the Wizards, Pistons, Hornets and Raptors, per Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwll.
Goodwill reports that all four teams could “operate as facilitators” to get Butler to Phoenix, but again, figuring out all the moving pieces is difficult. Beal wants to be in a winning situation, so that rules out the Raptors, Wizards and Hornets to a lesser extent, leaving the Pistons as the only viable landing spot, as they currently sit sixth in the East. The Pistons landing Beal would certainly bolster their offense for a serious playoff push, but is he the type of player they want to add to what’s been an impressive core this season?
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are growing weary in Los Angeles as the Lakers continue to sit and do nothing with those two tradable first-round picks at their disposal. Some small positive news did…
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