Miami Heat

The Miami Heat may have lost their former star, who wore No. 22, but they'll have a new star rocking No. 22 now.

Andrew Wiggins, who the Heat acquired in a deal for Jimmy Butler, will wear Butler's former No. 22, per the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds. The Heat also confirmed Wiggins' number on social media.

Wiggins had a down year last season but has returned to his normal self this year. The veteran forward is putting up 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game during the 2024-25 campaign and could see his numbers get better as he becomes a primary scoring option in Miami.

Reynolds reported Thursday that Wiggins is hoping to make his Heat debut on Monday against the Boston Celtics.

Along with Wiggins, the Heat landed Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick from the Warriors and brought in Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors. Anderson, who joined Golden State ahead of the season, is averaging 5.3 points per game, while Mitchell, who is in his fourth season, is putting up 6.3 points per game.

Butler was the face of the Heat's franchise for six years, leading the team to a pair of NBA Finals, but it's a new era for Miami now. The Heat may not be championship contenders just yet, but they have a team more than capable of making a playoff run. Miami is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 25-24.

Andrew Wiggins could play his first game in a Miami Heat uniform soon.

After being traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Heat as part of the Jimmy Butler deal, the veteran forward is hoping to be on the court by Monday when Miami faces the Boston Celtics, per the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds.

The Heat take on the Brooklyn Nets on the road on Friday, but that's likely too quick of a turnaround for Wiggins to get settled into Miami's locker room. If Wiggins is unable to suit up for Monday's game against Boston, the Heat will have a pair of tough games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks later next week that they could use him in.

Wiggins, who was with the Warriors from 2019 until Wednesday night, is having an outstanding year after struggling a bit last season. He's putting up 17.6 points, 4.6 boards and 2.4 assists per game as he joins the Heat.

In Miami, he should get a bigger role as one of the main scoring options, which could see him put up even better numbers.

Along with Wiggins, the Heat received Kyle Anderson, P.J. Tucker and a protected first-round pick in the trade. In the hours since the initial trade, Miami sent Tucker to the Toronto Raptors in return for Davion Mitchell in a move that helped it get below the first apron.

While Butler was the cornerstone of the Heat's franchise for six seasons, he clearly had no interest in remaining with the team and Miami will now enter a new era. The Heat might not be championship contenders yet, but making a playoff run with the addition of Wiggins and others is well within reason.

The Heat are currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 25-24.

The Toronto Raptors didn't keep Davion Mitchell for long.

Toronto reportedly traded the guard to the Miami Heat on Thursday in exchange for PJ Tucker, a second-round draft pick and cash, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.

Mitchell's future was under the spotlight, as he is scheduled for restricted free agency after the 2024-25 season. While the Raptors could have matched whatever offer he received on the open market, they decided to trade him before he potentially looked to move elsewhere.

It is still somewhat surprising to see Toronto move on from the guard so quickly after it acquired him from the Sacramento Kings.

That trade happened around the 2024 NBA draft, as the Kings swapped Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov and Jamal Shead to the Raptors for Jalen McDaniels.

It also meant moving on from Mitchell for the Kings, which surely wasn't an easy decision since he was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft and wasted no time making an impact with the best season of his career to this point as a rookie.

He averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from deep. However, he had a smaller role in his second and third seasons and saw his minutes per game drop from 27.7 as a rookie to 18.1 in his second season to 15.3 in his third season.

As a result, his numbers dropped to 5.3 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 rebounds a night during the 2023-24 campaign before the Kings traded him to Toronto.

Mitchell at least improved his shooting efficiency at 45.2 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from deep last season, and he responded with 6.3 points and 4.6 assists per game during his first season with the Raptors. Mitchell is shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three this season.

The shooting ultimately determines his ceiling since he is versatile enough to defend multiple positions at just 26 years old. His quickness on the perimeter allows him to stay in front of ball-handlers, and opponents shot 2.0 percent worse from deep and 2.1 percent worse from greater than 15 feet than their normal averages when he defended them in 2023-24, per NBA.com.

It isn't difficult to envision Mitchell becoming a key contributor with a larger role as his career continues given the defense and his improved shooting.

Perhaps the Heat will give him that role following this trade, as he still has a promising future even if his overall production has trended in the wrong direction of late.

One unnamed Miami Heat player told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that Jimmy Butler, who is currently serving an indefinite suspension, would be welcomed back to the team if he plays to his capabilities.

"One teammate privately said that the roster would embrace a Butler who would return at the top of his game," Winderman wrote.

"Among the reasons for the three suspensions had been management's perceived lack of such effort in games last month."

Butler, who has requested a trade, was previously suspended seven games for "conduct detrimental to the team." He was then suspended two games for missing a team flight to Milwaukee. Now, with the trade deadline one day away, he's serving an indefinite suspension, as Miami explained on Jan. 27.

The 35-year-old Butler is a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree. He's been with Miami since 2019, leading the team to two NBA Finals appearances along the way.

It's been a successful ride in Miami, but this pending divorce has been ugly to say the least.

Butler's last five full games on the court with Miami haven't gone particularly well for him either, as he's averaged just 11.4 points in 27.8 minutes per contest.

He's obviously capable of much better play. Of note, Butler posted 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists last year.

There's been some acrimony in Miami. Butler was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension last summer, but the Heat never made that offer to him.

He has a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26. If he declines it, he'll be a free agent.

So there's a lot of uncertainty in Butler's basketball future right now. A lot could be cleared up by the NBA trade deadline time of Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, but in the meantime, Butler (and the Heat) remain in limbo.

The Golden State Warriors have reportedly directed their attention away from a couple of wing targets and toward some potential frontcourt help leading up to the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

According to HoopsHype.com's Michael Scotto, the Warriors' chances of making a trade for Miami Heat veteran Jimmy Butler or Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson have "decreased."

Instead, Golden State is reportedly focusing on landing a big with the Chicago Bulls' Nikola Vučević, the Utah Jazz's John Collins, the Washington Wizards' Jonas Valančiūnas and the Portland Trail Blazers' Robert Williams being among the players they have inquired about.

Scotto added that the Warriors are "reluctant" to move forward Jonathan Kuminga, who is their best young player and trade chip, and that they don't want to "mortgage future assets" in an effort to given Stephen Curry and Draymond Green another opportunity to contend for a championship.

It is possible that Johnson is the type of player who would require Kuminga as part of the return, which may be why he is no longer a realistic option for Golden State.

The 28-year-old forward is enjoying a career year in Brooklyn, averaging 19.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers made and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Given his length at 6'8" coupled with his shooting ability, Johnson would seemingly be the ideal compliment to Curry, but the Nets would likely want a ton in return based on the numbers he is putting up.

The Warriors and Nets already made one trade this season, as Brooklyn sent veteran guard Dennis Schröder to Golden State in December.

That move hasn't yet paid dividends for the Warriors, as Schröder's production dropped from 18.4 points, 6.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game with the Nets to 10.2 points, 4.5 assists and 2.1 rebounds per contest with the Dubs.

Butler would perhaps be an easier player to land in a trade than Johnson since he is 35 and can become a free agent at the end of the season.

Also, the Heat recently suspended Butler for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team and announced that it would listen to trade offers for him, so Miami is operating from a disadvantageous position.

Since Butler has long been a quality playoff performer who twice led the Heat to the NBA Finals, he would perhaps be a great fit alongside Curry and Green down the stretch, but Scotto's report suggests a trade for Butler isn't in the cards for the Warriors.

Entering play Thursday, the Warriors are 10th in the Western Conference at 20-20, so it is clear that they need an addition or two to go from fringe playoff team to championship contender.

If such a trade happens, it sounds as though it will be focused on an interior contributor rather than a replacement for Klay Thompson, who signed with the Dallas Mavericks this past offseason.

There's another update in the Jimmy Butler saga, but it doesn't appear the status quo has changed much for him and the Miami Heat.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Tuesday that Butler's representatives have "repeatedly told Heat he's in shape, healthy and ready to continue his career and move past this immediately."

"Their messaging to Heat has been to negotiate best deal possible and once in red zone, if that team is granted permission by MIA to speak with Butler's rep to discuss his longterm future, that dialogue would be welcomed," Haynes said. "To date, no team has asked for permission."

That last part is the most crucial aspect. We're a little more than 48 hours away from Thursday's trade deadline, yet there isn't a single suitor who has advanced to the point where it reached out to Butler's reps directly.

The idea his camp is signaling the Heat to get the "best deal possible" is also at odds with what he and his agent are broadly communicating to other teams.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Sunday the Golden State Warriors paused their pursuit after they were informally told Butler wouldn't sign a long-term extension. He followed up Tuesday on Get Up to report the Heat were prepared to accept an offer that included Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins but that Butler "didn't want it."

The six-time All-Star remains determined to go to the Phoenix Suns, which Windhorst described as "bizarrely admirable."

"He has torched his relationship with the Heat and hurt the team's season," the NBA insider wrote. "He has also blocked trade options that would be good fits, where he could have potentially gotten paid and been on a contender. But he's the rare difference-maker who can tilt the outcome of a playoff series and that comes with a lot of power. Butler is trying to use it."

From the jump, Butler and his agent have operated as if they possess more leverage than they actually have. Teams clearly aren't banging down the Heat's door to make a trade, and the Suns' desire to get him doesn't matter if Bradley Beal declines to waive his no-trade clause.

A month has passed since Butler formally requested a trade, and almost nothing has fundamentally changed.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler reportedly isn't generating much interest on the trade market ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, "there isn't a lot of interest" in Butler outside of the Phoenix Suns, who are struggling to find a way to make room for him.

Bontemps noted that the Suns are handcuffed by Bradley Beal, who has a $50.2 million salary and a no-trade clause. Until and unless the Suns can find a landing spot for Beal, they are unable to accommodate Butler.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst added that that Suns are hard at work in terms of figuring out a solution, going so far as to propose three-, four- and even five-team deals.

Per Windhorst, the Heat are "very motivated" to move Butler, however, Bontemps pointed out that the few interested teams outside of Suns have been informed that Butler would prefer not to play for them.

If the Heat are ultimately unable to get a deal done with the Suns, Windhorst suggested that Miami could circle back to the Golden State Warriors as a landing spot.

Windhorst reported Monday that Butler informed the Warriors he would not sign a contract extension with them should they trade for him, meaning he would likely be a rental should Golden State acquire him.

Butler has a player option in his contract for next season, meaning he can either opt in at a salary of $52.4 million or opt out and become a free agent.

Over the past month, the Heat have suspended Butler on three separate occasions, which speaks to the disconnect between the team and player.

The first suspension was a seven-game ban for conduct detrimental to the team after Butler publicly suggested that he wanted to be traded. As part of that suspension announcement, the Heat noted that they would listen to trade offers for Butler.

Butler was later suspended two games for missing a team flight, and he is now in the midst of an indefinite suspension for walking out of practice.

The 35-year-old Butler is a six-time All-Star who has spent the past six seasons with the Heat after stints with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.

Butler has twice led the Heat to the NBA Finals, averaging 21.0 points per game in 316 regular-season games with the Heat and 24.7 points per game in 64 playoff games with Miami.

Over 25 games this season, Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest, while shooting 54.0 percent from the field.

Given his experience, skill set and history of playoff success, Butler would potentially be a huge addition for any contending team this season.

A great deal of drama has surrounded Butler this season, though, which could be part of the reason why teams are reluctant to trade for him.

From Miami's perspective, the issues between Butler and the organization seem irreparable at this point, so one can only assume that the Heat will go to great lengths to move him if there is any opportunity to make it happen.

Jimmy Butler's camp is pushing back on rumors that the guard delayed a Miami Heat team flight.

Rachel Nichols of Fox Sports reported that Heat locker room is "fed up" with Butler due to incidents that include delaying the team's departure from the airport. In response to the rumor, Butler's agent Bernard Lee posted a photo of the alleged flight and how it actually left 15 minutes early.

NBA insider Marc Stein confirmed that the flight did leave on time and Butler did not cause a delay.

Butler is in his sixth season with the Heat but it looks like his time with the franchise is over. He is currently suspended indefinitely by the organization due to conduct detrimental to the team. It is the third suspension the franchise has levied on the 35-year-old this season.

Despite the drama, Butler would be a solid pickup for any team ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. He has averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25 games and could serve as a strong addition to a contending team looking for some help at guard.

His latest conduct could be a deterrent for some suitors, even if the flight rumor is untrue, but his production and the short-term nature of his remaining contract should make a swing for him a bit more feasible. He has been linked to teams like the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

Jimmy Butler's teammates on the Miami Heat reportedly feel "disrespected" by the six-time All-Star amid his standoff with the franchise, according to Fox Sports 1 panelist Rachel Nichols.

Nichols reported on the Open Floor podcast with Chris Mannix (via HoopsHype) that Heat executives aren't the only members of the organization frustrated with Butler.

"I've talked to guys in that locker room, and to say they have had it is an understatement because he has disrespected them so much," she said. "The way he's been in and out, 'oh last minute, not playing,' the way he's been acting towards in their locker room, I mean staff and other people like that, and then the stunt with them making them wait for hours on the tarmac even to show up?"

In response to this clip going viral, Butler's agent Bernard Lee disputed that the flight was delayed:

After Butler's relationship with the Heat began publicly breaking down, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne detailed the issues that had been bubbling to the surface, particularly the special privileges he was being afforded. She reported that "alumni and staffers started to express concern at how much leeway the Heat were giving Butler."

Once the 35-year-old requested a trade out of Miami, he returned to the playbook that proved successful in attaining his wishes in the past.

Having already suspended him for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team, the Heat issued another two-game suspension as a result of a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today's team flight to Milwaukee."

Butler's agent, Bernard Lee, refuted a report from retired NBA veteran Channing Frye that Butler had made the team wait multiple hours on the tarmac before the flight before deciding he'd get his own accommodations to Milwaukee.

The trouble didn't end there, with Miami suspending the 6'7" forward again, indefinitely this time, after walking out of a practice.

It would be of little surprise if other Heat players have grown exasperated by the whole saga.

The Heat are seventh in the Eastern Conference at 23-23. They're in the midst of a playoff race and trying to climb into a top-six seed to avoid the play-in tournament, and their best player is staging a one-man crusade against the franchise.

Seeing him make light of the situation probably isn't endearing him to the locker room, either.

This raises the obvious question of how the Heat and Butler would forge ahead if he's still on the roster through Thursday's trade deadline. He'd likely have to rebuild a lot of trust with his teammates, assuming he decided to re-engage for the second half of the season.

Miami is reportedly lowering its asking price in a trade, which seems to be an acknowledgment the relationship is untenable and Butler needs to go in the end.

The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors' Friday night game at Chase Center is being described as "the Jimmy Butler Bowl" by ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show that the Suns and Warriors are "shaping up to be likely landing spots" for the Miami Heat star.

"Miami and Jimmy Butler, they have the same goal right now, between now and next Thursday, and that's finding a trade for Butler out of Miami," Charania said. "They are in active conversations.

"Tonight actually on ESPN, I would call it the Jimmy Butler Bowl. I know we got the Super Bowl next weekend, but this might be the Jimmy Butler Bowl tonight between the Warriors and the Suns."

Charania continued:

The Warriors we know all season they've been trying to get a star player to go with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. And now when you think about Jimmy Butler and the motivation that Miami has, I think a lot of people are looking at the Warriors right now in a potential situation. Do you strike right now with him?

And we know Phoenix, we've been talking about Phoenix the last month and a half, two months regarding Jimmy Butler. That pursuit remained strong. It might be a deal that that takes three, four or five teams, but the Suns are trying every avenue to potentially get a deal done.

He has been suspended indefinitely. I think, you know, Miami has done a little bit to kind of poke him, you know, to an extent. You think about it, he comes back to the team after a two-game suspension, shows up to their shootaround earlier this week and basically Erik Spoelstra, from what I'm told, in front of the entire team, tells Jimmy Butler, tells the rest of roster that Jimmy Butler will be coming off the bench moving forward for the Heat and Haywood Highsmith will be their starter. And from that point on Jimmy Butler, I'm told, just exited stage right, stage left, whatever you want to call it, he left the shootaround and that might be the last time Jimmy Butler is going to be around the Heat.

But Miami wants shorter term contracts. They want draft assets, and we'll see if they're going to be satisfied with that between now and Thursday.

Butler has played just five games in January amid three separate suspensions by the Heat, the most recent of which was announced Jan. 27 after the team said he walked out of practice.

Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press originally reported that Butler left a shootaround after being told he had been bumped out of the Heat's starting lineup.

This most recent suspension, which the Heat described as indefinite and without pay, put even more pressure on Miami to find a landing spot for Butler ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

But finding that trade partner has been complicated by Butler's contract, which carries a $48.8 million cap hit this season and a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26.

The Suns have reportedly been interested in acquiring Butler, but adding him to the roster would likely require moving Bradley Beal despite Beal's no-trade clause.

The Warriors would meanwhile have to part with multiple players to match Butler's salary, likely including Andrew Wiggins and at least two others.

Either one of these deals could involve at least one other team, if not multiple additional teams, to move the required amount of salary. SNY's Ian Begley previously reported the Minnesota Timberwolves could get involved by moving Julius Randle as part of the deal.

For now, the Suns and Warriors will focus on tonight's contest with Western Conference play-in positioning on the line. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET.