Jimmy Butler ‘tripled down’ on trade request ahead of NBA trade deadline

The Jimmy Butler saga has taken another leap as the disgruntled Miami Heat star has “tripled down” on his demands to be traded ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, according to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.

“Jimmy Butler has tripled down on his trade request,” Charania said on NBA Today Tuesday morning. “Earlier this month he did it to Pat Riley’s face, and then last week he did it to Micky Arison, the team owner, and the CEO, Nick Arison.

“And I’m told the Heat have had some productive conversations on a potential Butler trade this week.”

The Phoenix Suns have been Butler’s reported preferred destination upon being traded but the Heat have no interest in estranged Suns guard Bradley Beal who is still owed $53 million next season and $57 million the following season. Not to mention that Beal possesses a no-trade clause that he will only waive for the right destination.

A trade between Phoenix and Miami will almost certainly require a third (or fourth) team that A) will be willing to take on Beal’s contract and B) that Beal will approve of by waiving his no-trade clause.

All of these are situations to monitor closely with just over two weeks until the NBA trade deadline.