Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Raptors Open to Facilitating Deal as 3rd or 4th Team

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly hoping to get involved in a trade headlined by Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler as a third or fourth party.

According to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, the Raptors don't want Butler given that he is 35 years of age and they are a rebuilding team, but sources have indicated that they would like to play a role if he is moved before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

Smith noted that the Raptors have some valuable expiring contracts in Bruce Brown ($23 million), Chris Boucher ($10.8 million) and Davion Mitchell ($6.4 million), which could make them ideal candidates to be a facilitator in a three- or four-team deal, while netting them some draft pick compensation.

Smith added that while the Raptors would prefer to not take on long-term money, they would "most assuredly" take some salary on for next season if it meant securing additional draft assets.

At 10-31, the Raptors have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference this season, putting them in the mix for a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

If they are able to add a young star such as Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper, plus additional high-upside draft picks, to play alongside Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, it could go a long way toward turning things around in short order in Toronto.

As for Butler, the 14-year NBA veteran may be nearing the end of the line with regard to his time in Miami.

ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported earlier this month that Butler requested a trade, and the Heat later suspended him seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team."

As part of the suspension statement, the Heat said that they would listen to trade offers involving the six-time All-Star.

Charania reported this week that Butler had a face-to-face meeting with Heat president Pat Riley, during which he reiterated his desire to be traded.

Butler is a highly accomplished player who has led the Heat to the NBA Finals twice, so it seems likely that there will be at least some interest from contending teams in acquiring him.

Accommodating his $48.8 million cap hit could be difficult for interested teams, though, plus there is the looming possibility of Butler exercising his $52.4 million player option for next season, which would be a huge expense for teams to take on.

With regard to Butler's 2024-25 salary, a team like the Raptors playing the role of facilitator may be necessary in order to make it the slightest bit possible for a team to land him.

Of course, the Heat are in the Eastern Conference playoff mix at 20-19 and likely don't want to concede the season, so a Butler trade will likely also come down to whether they are able to get the type of compensation that can help them now and in the future.