"Jimmy going to Milwaukee" - NBA fans speculate Bucks trading for Jimmy Butler as Heat lead Khris Middleton sweepstakes

The Jimmy Butler trade saga seems to have been going on forever. After indicating to the Miami Heat and Pat Riley that he definitely wants out, the rumors and prospective trade situations have flooded the internet. However, almost a month in, there seems to be no clarity on what will play out and where his future lies.

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns have been closely linked to acquiring Butler, with both teams desperate to keep their stars happy. The key topics of conversations about matching salaries to acquire Butler in a trade for each team have been centered around Khris Middleton and Bradley Beal respectively.

Bovada Official updated its betting odds, showing Miami is the favorite to land Middleton to +250, on Sunday. The strong odds have led to speculation about Jimmy Butler being moved to the Bucks, with fans reacting.

The excitement about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Jimmy Butler teaming up to form a new "Big 3" in the East seems to have seeped into the fans.

Miami fans do not appear thrilled, however. Losing the star who has guided them to multiple NBA Finals in a package highlighted by an injury-prone, aging wing on an expiring contract has not enthused the Heat faithful.

Other fans seem to be convinced by the idea of multiple teams being involved, as reported by many, with Bradley Beal and Zach Lavine also being linked as key pieces that may be thrown in to facilitate any deal.

With the trade deadline of Feb. 6 fast approaching, more details on what happens and who gets involved in the trade are likely to be finalized soon. But the updated betting odds seem to suggest that behind the scenes, there is some level of belief that the Milwaukee Bucks are going to be a part of the trade and that Khris Middleton's expiring contract is likely to be moved to the Miami Heat.

Odds about Jimmy Butler's future point at a move to the Phoenix Suns

Most discussions surrounding the Jimmy Butler trade have surrounded the ability of the Phoenix Suns to facilitate the trade.

The Suns have not found the success they anticipated with their own big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Of the three, the Suns are expected to part ways with Bradley Beal, and recent moves, such as their acquisition of three first-round picks from the Utah Jazz, point toward them accumulating assets to entice a team to take up Beal's contract.

Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant, future teammates at Phoenix? - Source: Getty

In addition to their depleted war chest of draft picks, the consensus of Beal's contract being one of the league's most untradeable contracts also adds to questions surrounding whether the Suns can make the rumored trade happen. Beal's no-trade clause, by which the guard can choose to reject a trade to a team that does not appeal to him, complicates matters.

Jimmy Butler's ability to decline his player option for 2025-26 and his public warning to teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies of his opting out of the contract to re-sign elsewhere has also made the trade more complicated than it would normally have been for a player of his talent.

NBA executives have raised conversations about four to five teams being involved in any prospective trade. The Milwaukee Bucks who appear willing to part with the likes of Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton to improve their roster, and the Chicago Bulls, who stand to lose their draft pick in the 2025 draft if they qualify for the play-in tournament, are other teams involved in the multi-team trade talk.

Whether those parties will be involved, if the sportsbooks are right about Middleton being shipped to Miami, and whether it is a sign of the Bucks' involvement in the Butler trade are factors fans will be eager to get a hold off with the trade deadline looming.