Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Bucks Haven't Been Told They're Not Possible Landing Spot

The Milwaukee Bucks haven't been told by representatives for Jimmy Butler that the Miami Heat star doesn't want to play there, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

NBA insider Chris Haynes originally reported on Jan. 7 that multiple teams had been told that Butler "has no interest in being traded there" amid his standoff with the Heat. Haynes cited the Memphis Grizzlies specifically, with Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor adding the Bucks to the group.

Intentionally limiting his pool of teams was a counterproductive approach from Butler, who told Heat president Pat Riley again last week he wants out, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The six-time All-Star's trade value simply isn't that high for a player of his caliber, and moving him becomes even more difficult from Miami's perspective with fewer franchises incentivized to negotiate.

The Bucks are clearly in need of something to improve their supporting cast around Giannis Antetokounmpo. They're fifth in the Eastern Conference at 21-17, and their 140-106 hammering at the hands of the New York Knicks on Sunday dropped them to 0-8 against the East's three best teams.

After the Knicks game, Antetokounmpo reflected on how Milwaukee has "played horribly" when matched up with New York in addition to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.

Maybe Butler gives the Bucks the shot in the arm they need to rise to the top of the conference again. But they possess a very narrow path to make this trade happen before even considering whether the 35-year-old is the star worth mortgaging what's left of their trade assets.

Swapping Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton for Butler would hurt Milwaukee's floor-spacing, and he'd be an imperfect fit alongside Antetokounmpo, who isn't much of a shooter.

Then there's the risk of acquiring a player who's eligible to become a free agent and who has turned things toxic at multiple stops in his career.

Giving Butler, who has a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26, the kind of long-term extension he's seeking could prove to be a terrible long-term value play. Failing to give him that kind of contract, meanwhile, means he might bolt in a few months or worse, trigger his player option with an eye toward forcing another trade.

Sure, the Bucks might not be out of the running in terms of Butler's preferred destinations, but that may not make them a serious suitor for his services.