Toronto Raptors charge in to help Miami Heat, could solve Jimmy Butler trade talk problems
All eyes are now directed on what would be the next to unfold for Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.
As Jimmy Butler’s seven-game suspension comes to an end, questions are now swirling on whether the embattled Miami Heat star will return to South Beach and run things back after all of the mess that happened over the past couple of weeks.
From the reports of Butler getting infuriated about the Heat’s hesitancy to extend him and provide the best help he could have to contend for a title, it seems likely that both sides are approaching the end of the road.
Butler stands determined to call it quits after his recent infamous meeting with Pat Riley, but there’s been an existing speculation that he could see himself wearing a Heat uniform again.
Toronto interested to enter Butler sweepstakes?
Should Butler and the Heat fail to recover what’s lost for both of them and a split up has been finally decided, one team emerged interested to enter a transaction with them — but not as the prime landing spot for the 36-year-old.
According to Doug Smith of the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Raptors are reportedly making a push to be included in the Butler sweepstakes as a third-party team for any potential deal that may occur around the disgruntled All-Star.
“Talking to a handful of people around the league — all granted anonymity because none have the ultimate say in how the saga ends — it is obvious the Raptors are hoping to insinuate themselves into the conversation,” Smith wrote.
“It’s not that they want Butler: His skill set, age, $52-million (U.S.) player option for next season, and longer-term financial desires make him about ill-suited to join this roster. But general manager Bobby Webster and president Masai Ujiri are trying to be facilitators — and benefactors — in what ultimately happens with Butler, the disgruntled Heat wing who has asked for a trade.”
Wise plan for the future
The Raptors are indeed wise to consider this concept. A potential Butler move that includes them can only be beneficial in terms of continuing to build their team around on the long-term picture.
Currently in a rebuilding situation as the No. 13 team in the East with an awful 10-31 record, the Raptors will certainly prefer draft assets and flexibility before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
For this, it shouldn’t surprise us that they’ll do whatever it takes to squeeze on the remaining values of Bruce Brown ($23 million), Chris Boucher ($10 million), and Davion Mitchell ($6.4 million) who are set to become free agents next season.
As anticipation continues to increase within the NBA between Butler and the Heat for a looming basketball divorce, we can only wait and see if the Raptors will manage to enter the chat and help a transaction materialize with another team.
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