NBA Rumors: Bill Simmons claims Miami Heat would be open to moving Jimmy Butler in exchange for 4x All-NBA selection

The Miami Heat may surprise people by trading Jimmy Butler this offseason. According to sports analyst Bill, Simmons, the Heat might be able to land Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers if they trade Butler.

“If the Lakers called Miami up and said, ‘We’ll give you Anthony Davis for Jimmy Butler,’” Simmons stated during an episode of his podcast. “Miami is either doing it or they’re having a seven-hour meeting before they decide not to do it.”

Simmons added:

“If they can turn Jimmy Butler into Anthony Davis, I think they do it.”

It's uncertain how this hypothetical trade proposed by Bill Simmons will sit with Heat fans. After all, Jimmy Butler led the team to the NBA Finals in 2020. Despite their recent playoff upsets, the six-time All-Star has remained loyal to the team in South Beach.

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Trading Jimmy Butler for Anthony Davis won't sit well with a lot of fans

Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Six

After getting traded on a couple of occasions, Jimmy Butler finally settled down in Florida with the Miami Heat in 2019. His arrival instantly put the Heat back in title contention.

Heat fans have grown to love Butler over the last couple of years. His toughness and determination have separated him from the rest of the pack and if the Heat decide to move on from the former MIP winner, fans might voice their opposition.

Anthony Davis is superior to Butler in terms of playing ability. However, his inability to stay healthy for the majority of a season has prevented him from fulfilling his potential. The last time he was able to stay healthy for an entire season was back in 2019-20, when he played 62 games for the Lakers.

It does not make much sense for the Heat to trade away a healthy player who has an important role in the team for someone who may not be able to play very often.