Speculation surrounding a potential trade for Jimmy Butler is growing, much to the dismay of both his coach, Erik Spoelstra, and teammate Tyler Herro.
According to Shams, “The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right,” as reported by league sources to ESPN. Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has also suggested that Butler is considering options that include two Texas teams—the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks—as well as the Golden State Warriors. Notably, Butler hails from Houston, Texas.
In response to the trade rumors, Spoelstra quickly dismissed the notion of a trade involving the star forward.
“It’s been our best, most consistent stretch of the season,” Spoelstra stated, as reported by the Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman. “So anything else, any other narrative, I don’t care. Nobody should, because most of this stuff has just been all like a bunch of gibberish.”
Tyler Herro, who has been performing exceptionally well, also seemed uninterested in the ongoing trade chatter regarding Butler.
“I got to check my phone still this morning,” Herro mentioned, according to Winderman. “I don’t know what was said. The vibes felt good in here today, so I don’t know. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
While the rumors tying Butler to the Rockets, Warriors, and Mavericks are not new, the Heat’s willingness to consider offers for their star player adds an intriguing layer as the trade deadline approaches in February.
Having missed out on targets Paul George and Lauri Markkanen during the summer, the Golden State Warriors appear eager to invest in acquiring a star player.
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