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With that said, all Butler needs is one partner.
“I don’t think anyone thinks it’s worth paying him what he wants, but some teams are desperate,” a third Western Conference executive said.
Butler seems to have found a potential partner by locking in on the Phoenix Suns, the most desperate team in the NBA.
No team is more leveraged than the Suns. They’ve traded away control of all of their first-round picks through 2031. They’re well above the second apron. And yet they’re still in danger of missing the playoffs.
Giving up everything to put together a Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal has turned out to be a mistake. Most teams would react by punting on the season and tearing everything down. The Suns—specifically, owner Mat Ishbia—are taking a different approach: Keep doubling down. They’ve made clear they want Butler, and Butler, likely recognizing that Ishbia is perhaps the only owner willing to give him a big extension, has made Phoenix his primary target.
The problem is that, due to the league’s salary-matching rules, the only way for the Suns to acquire Butler is by trading Bradley Beal and the $160 million he’s owed through 2026-27. The Heat have no interest in taking back that contract. Beal also has a no-trade clause and does not seem interested in leaving Phoenix.
Perhaps there’s a three-way deal that can be worked out with the Sacramento Kings, who are reportedly open to offers on star point guard De’Aaron Fox.
“Milwaukee is also desperate to add something and try to make one more run with Giannis Antetokounmpo,” said the second Western Conference executive.
But to find a new home, Butler may have to lower his asking price on his next contract.
