Jimmy Butler (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler has been widely mentioned in trade rumors throughout the 2024 NBA offseason, but it looks like he’ll return to South Beach unless the team receives an offer they can’t refuse.

Jimmy Butler was limited to 60 games during the 2023-24 season, and he missed Miami’s entire opening-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics with a sprained MCL. The eventual champion C’s made easy work of the Heat, defeating them in five games.

Though Butler hasn’t displayed any signs of slowing down, he’ll be 35 in September and is entering the final year of his contract. So Pat Riley and company may decide to trade the six-time All-Star now instead of losing him for nothing in free agency.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz proposed a blockbuster trade idea that would see Miami sending Butler to the Memphis Grizzlies for 26-year-old standout Desmond Bane:

“If the Grizzlies want to re-establish themselves as a powerhouse in the conference, bringing in Butler to team up with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. would certainly make a statement.

A deal based around Desmond Bane seems like the most likely outcome. Losing Butler hurts, although it gives the Heat a new 26-and-under core of Bane, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović to build around without worrying about an extension for Butler.

Memphis would then move forward with Butler as a secondary scoring option to Morant and still have Jackson, Marcus Smart, GG Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard (team option), Vince Williams Jr. and others on the roster.”

Memphis’ 2023-24 season was completely derailed by injuries as well as Ja Morant’s suspension. Bane, Morant and Marcus Smart combined to play just 71 games, with Bane himself appearing in 42 contests. Young star Jaren Jackson Jr. also missed 16 games.

So with better health and luck, the Grizzlies figure to be a contender again in 2024-25. But of course, a trade for a veteran superstar like Jimmy Butler could be the difference-maker that helps Memphis come out on top in the crowded Western Conference.

Jimmy Butler For Desmond Bane Would Be A Fair Trade

Though Butler is nine years older than Bane, the former carries far more big-game experience and is better defensively. A young team like Memphis should be willing to sacrifice a bit of youth for a more proven veteran to get past top dogs in the West like Denver, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Phoenix.

Losing Butler hurts Miami in the short term, but a young star like Bane would be a nice core player to build around with the likes of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.