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Christopher Boan writes for FloridaBet.com and has been covering sports and sports betting for more than seven years, with experience at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Heat Send Disgruntled Star To Warriors
The third time's the charm. At least that's what Miami Heat czar Pat Riley likely said to himself when he suspended star Jimmy Butler for the third time in January for conduct detrimental to the team. Butler, a six-time All-Star who took the Heat to multiple NBA Finals, essentially decided his time in Miami is over, and things were getting uncomfortable.
Butler on Jan. 27 was informed he wouldn't be starting at a morning shootaround for the team's game against the Magic. Butler then walked out, and Riley again suspended him - the third such action in January.
All this had to come to an end before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. As Heat futures fluctuated across Florida sports betting due to the Butler situation, FloridaBet.com had odds on where Butler would be playing by the end of the week.
In the end, Jimmy Buckets is off to join Stephen Curry and the Warriors, with a chance to chase his elusive first NBA title. The Warriors in turn sent forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson plus a top-10-protected 2025 first-round pick to the Heat, while Butler will decline his $52 million player option for next season and is planning to sign a new two-year, $111 million deal that carries through the 2026-27 season, according to ESPN.
Jimmy Butler Trade Destinations
Team | Odds | Percentage Chance |
Phoenix Suns | +350 | 22.2% |
Houston Rockets | +900 | 10.0% |
New Orleans Pelicans | +900 | 10.0% |
Milwaukee Bucks | +1250 | 7.4% |
Memphis Grizzlies | +1250 | 7.4% |
Golden State Warriors | +1750 | 5.4% |
The Field / Stay With Heat | +175 | 36.4% |
Disclaimer: These odds are for information purposes only and are not available through licensed sportsbooks in surrounding states. Sports betting is only legal in Florida via Hard Rock Bet, but our site is monitoring what happens in Miami and will let you know when sportsbooks like DraftKings and BetMGM FL become available.
Could Suns Land Jimmy Buckets?
Our top spot for Butler was the Phoenix Suns of the Western Conference, who checked in at +350 as they try to capitalize on the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker era.
Then there was the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans, who were co-listed at +900 to land Butler, while the Memphis Grizzlies (+1250) and Milwaukee Bucks (also +1250) were the other NBA teams on our Butler odds board.
At the bottom of the board was the Golden State Warriors, who checked in on Butler over the weekend but initially were unwilling to give him an extension. It sounds as if everything changed when the Dubs failed to reacquire Kevin Durant from Phoenix, at which point they returned their focus to Butler and Miami.
USA Today photo by Rhona Wise.
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