In the latest saga of the trade rumors surrounding Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, the newest reporting from Shams Chrania of ESPN says that the 35-year-old “prefers” a trade before the deadline on Feb. 6. Butler has missed the last two games for the Heat with a stomach illness as the speculation has been amplified.

Charania's reporting of Butler has come under fire, specifically from the Miami forward's agent, Bernie Lee, who called the news “fabricated.”

There have been some relatively conflicting reports about the matter as The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson said there has not been a formal request for a trade and would play out the rest of the season. However, he did mention that Butler would be “fine” with a trade after the team not giving him a contract extension.

The same would be said by Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald on the topic of Butler not requesting a trade and playing out the season if need be. Butler has missed the last two games with a “stomach illness” as he left the contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder last Friday where it looked to be he limped off with an ankle injury, but wouldn't return for the game as he was “feeling ill” per the team.

What Shams Charania has reported about Heat's Jimmy Butler

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) controls the ball as Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (00) defends in the first half at Little Caesars Arena.
Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

In this whole odyssey with Butler's future with the Heat in question, Charania would start it by saying that the team is “open” to offers for Butler and that the star had some preferred options if he were to be dealt.

“The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, league sources told ESPN,” ESPN writer Shams Charania said. “And Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that Butler is open to destinations such as two Texas teams (Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks) and the Golden State Warriors.”

Related Miami Heat NewsArticle continues below
Giannis Antetokounmpo photoshopped in Heat jersey. Number 34.
Heat trade proposal for Giannis Antetokounmpo in offseason after trade report
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the basketball over Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) and guard Tyler Herro (14) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center.
Did Heat hint at possible Kevin Durant trade pursuit on social media?

Charania would then add the Phoenix Suns to the list of teams Butler is interested in going to which sparked the drama between the ESPN insider and Butler's agent.

Shams Charania “1000 percent stand” on reporting of Jimmy Butler

However, Charania would say he stands by his reporting and that it is the “most vetted story that I've ever put out.”

“The situation is that I 1000 percent stand on the reporting,” Charania said. “This is probably the most vetted story that I’ve ever put out. I’m that confident in this story. This is exactly where it is. The Heat are open to listening to trade offers for Jimmy Butler. That’s what sources told me last week. That remains to be the case. There is no urgency though. He is on a $49 million contract this year. He’s got a 52 million-dollar player option for next year.

“They don’t really have much fear that… Let’s say he goes into free agency,” Charania continued. “They are not that fearful that there is a team out there with cap space that is going to give that to him. They are confident in where they’re at. The reporting I had is that if he were going to be moved, four destinations he would be open to from what I’m told has been communicated around the league. That’s the Mavericks, the Rockets, the Warriors, and the Suns. And that all remains to be the case 1000 percent. And it’s fully fully vetted.”


At any rate, whether the Heat trade Butler or they play out the season, the Feb. 6 trade deadline will be one to monitor as well as free agency to see what makes of this whole situation. In the meantime, there is a season in front of the team as Miami is 14-13 which puts them sixth in the Eastern Conference as they start a three-game road trip starting Thursday against the Orlando Magic.