Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: $52 million star prefers third option role with Kevin Durant & Devin Booker over Heat hierarchy

The ongoing Jimmy Butler trade saga has been interesting, to say the least. After being suspended by the Heat for what the franchise has deemed conduct detrimental to the team, Butler is set to make his return to action when Miami plays the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Although a trade could happen between now and the Feb. 6 deadline given the friction the situation has caused in Miami, Butler remains in Miami for now. ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne reported that much of Butler's frustration stems from his usage.

In games where he has played, Butler has gotten the sense that Miami's offense is gearing more toward the Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo duo, forcing him to be the third option. Although Herro is having a career year, Butler feels that if he's going to be the third option, he'd rather be a third option for Phoenix.

"Sources close to Butler said … ‘If they’re doing this transition to Bam and Tyler, Jimmy’s like, ‘Fine, do your transition,’ a source close to Butler said. ‘If [he’s] going to be the second or third wheel, [he’ll] be that in Phoenix to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker,’” Shelburne reported.

With the Suns struggling out West and Bradley Beal being moved to a bench role, the addition of Butler could be just the spark Phoenix needs. However, given that Beal has a no-trade clause, and Miami isn't interested in his services, a deal isn't as simple as one would think.

Looking at the latest surrounding a Jimmy Butler trade as six-time All-Star looks to part ways with the Heat

Over the past few weeks, as the relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat continued to sour, Phoenix has been cited as a destination Butler would prefer to land and one of the few willing to extend him once his contract is up.

As previously mentioned, given that Miami isn't interested in Bradley Beal, a two-team deal seems unlikely. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, to help bring Butler to Phoenix, the Suns would be willing to give up their 2031 first-round pick - the last first-rounder they can trade.

But where will Jimmy Butler go if a deal isn't finalized? In addition to his suspension, Butler reportedly reiterated his desire to part ways with the franchise last week during a meeting with Pat Riley after taking shots at the Heat's front office on Instagram.

While teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies have been told not to trade for the Heat forward, according to ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel, Butler's team hasn't told the Milwaukee Bucks not to trade for him.

While Milwaukee is a second-apron team and would need some clever financial maneuvering before even considering a deal for Butler, the fact that his team hasn't reached out to Milwaukee to tell them to back off could be something to monitor ahead of his return to action tonight.