How is Jimmy Butler in Play for Pacers?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonah Kubicek | Last updated Dec 14, 2024 3:29 PM ET

After trading for Thomas Bryant from the Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers have made it very clear that they are not ready to give up, despite a lackluster 11-15 start. After marching through the playoffs all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Indiana has struggled this season, in large part thanks to injuries.

While James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson are out for the season, decimating the Pacers' frontcourt, wing Aaron Nesmith has been out since November 1 and is not close to a return . If the Pacers are serious about making a run this year, they could add Jimmy Butler via another trade with Miami.

Butler is the NBA's fiercest competitor and would immediately fix any effort or defensive issues that have been plaguing the Pacers. He is likely to opt out of his contract after this season and become a free agent, so the Pacers would have to be all-in on winning this season.

A proposed NBA mock trade outlines how Butler can join the Pacers. Sports Illustrated's Ryan Stano proposed Indiana sending away Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin, and a 2028 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick to the Heat in exchange for Butler.

Unfortunately, such a deal would send away the only starting-quality center the Pacers have. On top of that, losing such a promising young player like Mathurin would hurt, so a deal is unlikely to manifest.

If the Heat instead sent Butler, Kevin Love, and rookie Kel'el Ware to Indiana for a package including Turner, Toppin, Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson, and Jarace Walker, as well as some draft picks, it would give Indiana enough talent to go all-in this season. Butler's expiring contract would open the door for massive moves during free agency, like bringing back Turner.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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