Warriors end Jimmy Butler trade talks upon hearing he wouldn’t sign extension
Trade talks that would send disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors have ended after it was made clear he wouldn’t sign an extension, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Sunday.
Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press later added that “there are talks involving Jimmy Butler that are ongoing” into Sunday evening and there are “tons of moving parts.”
“(Butler’s) No. 1 goal is to be traded. His actions will be aimed at getting himself traded preferably to the Phoenix Suns, period,” Windhorst said on ESPN the week prior.
Miami had reportedly lowered its asking price for Butler, which brought Golden State into the picture. Talks between the two teams ending could mean Miami reengages with the Suns.
Bradley Beal continues to be a potential deal’s biggest roadblock, as he has one of the NBA’s two no-trade clauses (LeBron James) with $110 million still to be paid over the two years following this season.
The Heat have also not been particularly interested in Beal despite their willingness to take players with future money on their contracts, Windhorst reported on Friday.
Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, being the father of Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein in addition to Butler and Heat president Pat Riley being at odds have only added to the saga.
“Everything about this negotiation has been too personal,” said an executive from one of the teams that has been involved in the expansive talks. “It was hard enough to find a way, but that aspect has made it harder.”
Kevin Durant and Mike Budenholzer, meanwhile, have insisted trade rumors circling the team have not been a distraction.
“We’re grown men, most of these guys have been in the league eight-plus years, nine-plus years. They understand the business man, it ain’t nothing new,” Durant said postgame on Wednesday. “It’s about doing your job and controlling what you can control every single day. … I want everybody on this team, I want everybody to feel comfortable with their role and their future and their contract, all of that stuff. I would love that for each one of us my teammates and myself.”
