Beggars can be choosers.
Jimmy Butler is pulling his best Goldilocks impression after indicating he wants out of Miami, reportedly nixing some potential destinations off his list.
The Grizzlies and several other teams have been told Butler has “no interest” in being acquired by them, according to veteran NBA reporter Chris Haynes.
The Bucks are also not an approved destination, per Yahoo.
Butler’s pickiness hurts an already tough situation for the Heat, who are now open to trade offers after team president Pat Riley previously said the franchise would not deal the veteran star.
Though they are listening, teams aren’t lining up to trade for a disgruntled 35-year-old serving a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
“I don’t think the Heat have any traction. I don’t think there’s any deal that they like, I don’t think there are many teams that are offering them anything that they consider, any actionable thing,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on “Get Up” on Wednesday. “I think the Heat are preparing for a future with Jimmy Butler on the roster. We’ll see if that can get worked out, because obviously he’s in the midst of a seven-game suspension.”
One team Butler seemingly is OK with is the Suns, but there currently is not a path to the desert since Bradley Beal — who would have to be part of any deal — has no desire to waive his no-trade clause, his agent told ESPN.
“The Heat said they were going to trade Jimmy Butler, the Suns are known to be interested, the only way to get him is to move Bradley Beal, which would take Beal’s cooperation,” Windhorst said Wednesday. “This is not even a consideration, according to (Beal’s agent) Mark Bartelstein, he’s just focused on helping the Suns turn things around.”
Add all of that together and it creates a murky situation that seemingly is nowhere near a resolution.
Adding an unhappy player in the final year of a contract is not a formula for success and Butler is making it clear there are some places that wouldn’t suit him — even if the Grizzlies are third in the West and the Bucks fifth in the East.
When ESPN initially reported Butler’s openness to a trade, the outlet listed the Suns, Mavericks, Rockets and Warriors as preferred destinations.
The Rockets were not interested in Butler, while Phoenix has the aforementioned cap issues, as does Dallas, the Miami Herald reported.
That could open the door for the Warriors, but they sit in 10th place in the Western Conference amid a 6-15 stretch.
ESPN previously reported Butler wants a “win-now” contender, which also further shrinks his market.
The Heat and Butler have until Feb. 6 to find him a new home or be forced to live out their remaining time together before Butler exercises his player option to become a free agent.
