NBA Trade Rumors: Former COTY predicts Heat sidestepping Jimmy Butler’s $52 million option by acquiring Kings guard

The Jimmy Butler saga in Miami has been one of the most talked-about storylines heading into the NBA Trade Deadline. With the Feb. 6 deadline looming on the horizon, the big question on the minds of NBA fans is whether Miami will part ways with their starting forward.

While Butler reportedly wants to be traded before the deadline, he has yet to formally request a trade from the front office. From the sounds of things, Miami's President of Basketball Operations, Pat Riley, has no intentions of trading Butler.

The way former NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell and former player Steve Smith see things, Riley's plan to hold on to Butler is bound to change. On Saturday's NBA TV broadcast for the Heat vs. Hawks game, Mitchell said:

"If Jimmy doesn't see a three-year deal out there and a sign-and-trade, he's gonna opt-in. $52 million and I'm gonna walk away from it and then go out here and find me a deal? That ain't happening. He's gonna opt in if he doesn't get traded.

"If you're Miami Heat and Pat Riley, do you want to deal with Jimmy Butler at $52 million? No that would be a nightmare scenario. So to me I think he's going to get moved and now that De'Aaron Fox and the things that happen in Sacramento with Mike Brown don't be surprised. I smell a fox in Miami."

While Jimmy Butler may be on his way out of Miami, the Sacramento Kings reportedly have no interest in trading De'Aaron Fox

Although Pat Riley released a statement indicating that he and the Heat are not interested in trading Jimmy Butler right now, it sounds like fans and analysts believe that will change.

On Saturday's NBA TV broadcast, Steve Smith said that he believes Riley has no interest in trading Butler "yet." While his co-host, Sam Mitchell, feels as though Miami will move Butler for De'Aaron Fox, ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported Friday that the Kings don't want to trade Fox.

Despite parting ways with coach Mike Brown this week, Siegel's sources have indicated that the team has no plans of parting ways with Fox after acquiring DeMar DeRozan this summer.

Given that, it sounds as though if Butler does get traded, it will be elsewhere. According to reports, Butler has Phoenix, Dallas and Houston on his list of preferred destinations.

A potential trade to Dallas would likely require the Mavericks to part with multiple players to match Butler's $48 million contract, making it unlikely the team would sacrifice its depth to secure the deal.

Additionally, in the case of the Suns, a trade would likely require Bradley Beal to waive his no-trade clause. Considering that Beal had a chance to go to Miami before landing in Phoenix, it seems unlikely he would green-light a trade.

As such, only time will tell how the Jimmy Butler saga plays out between now and the Feb. 6 deadline.