NBA insider floats blockbuster Jimmy Butler mock trade sending Zion Williamson to Miami Heat

New Orleans Pelicans v Miami Heat - Source: Getty
NBA insider floats blockbuster Jimmy Butler mock trade sending Zion Williamson to Miami Heat - Source: Getty

Jimmy Butler's time with the Miami Heat appears to be coming to an end. NBA insider Bill Simmons proposed a blockbuster trade idea on X, Saturday that involved Butler and New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson. The mock trade idea includes four teams, the Pelicans, Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons.

"Spent the weekend in my Trade Machine art studio working on a Jimmy Butler masterpiece. Sorry to CJ McCollum for not fitting him in. NO also gets: Mem 2026 1st, Mia 2029 1st, Det 2029 pick swap (top-8 prot). PS: You can sub Ingram for Zion and NO gets less from Miami."

In the mock trade proposed by Bill Simmons, the Miami Heat replaces want-away player Jimmy Butler with Pelicans' Zion Williamson. To do that, they have to send out a significant contract to match Zion's $36.7 million salary and they do that by trading Butler to the Grizzlies.

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The Grizzlies now have a challenge as they want to acquire Butler. They don't have the necessary salary cap space to take on his $48.8 million contract.

The solution is to also clear salary space. They do that by trading Brandon Clarke ($12.5 million) to the Miami Heat and Marcus Smart ($20.2 million) to the Detroit Pistons. That scenario clears their salary cap space to take on Butler's contract.

Furthermore, the Grizzlies must send draft picks and other assets to the Heat and Pelicans. The Miami Heat will obtain Zion Williamson, while the Pelicans will receive Tim Hardaway Jr., Luke Kennard and G Jackson II, along with future draft picks and a pick swap.


Jimmy Butler's other possible trade destination proposed by NBA analyst

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat need to find a solution before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Speculations surrounding his possible destinations are heating up with Sam Vecenie of The Athletic believing that Butler would be a perfect fit for the Phoenix Suns.

"The Suns seem to be in desperation mode, sitting under .500 and outside of the Western Conference Play-In picture," Vecenie wrote. "Butler would be about as perfect a fit between Kevin Durant and Devin Booker as you could find, as he has the ability to take on tough defensive assignments and also handle the ball."

However, in order to get Jimmy Butler, the Suns must utilize Bradley Beal in the transaction. Beal would have to waive his no-trade clause and hope that the Miami Heat agree to take on his deal.

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Edited by Krutik Jain
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