Jimmy Butler Rumors: Grizzlies 'Lurking' in Trade Talks, Could Let Star Walk in FA

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly a team to watch in the trade sweepstakes involving Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst, the Grizzlies are "lurking" in Butler trade talks, and an anonymous NBA executive believes part of their interest may derive from the desire to offload some future salary to set the stage for a Jaren Jackson Jr. contract extension.

Additional sources indicated to Bontemps and Windhorst that the possibility of Butler opting out of his contract and becoming a free agent this coming offseason may appeal to the Grizzlies since he could help them in a playoff run this season before opening up significant cap space during the offseason by opting out.

Butler, 35, is in the midst of a tumultuous season that will almost certainly result in him getting moved before the trade deadline.

Earlier this month, the Heat suspended Butler seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team," after he strongly suggested publicly that he wanted to be traded. The Heat also said in a statement at the time that they would listen to trade offers.

Butler returned to appear in three games, but the Heat announced another two-game suspension on Wednesday after the six-time All-Star missed a team flight.

While Butler clearly wants out of Miami, the Grizzlies may be the one team he doesn't want to join.

Speaking Thursday on NBA Today, ESPN's Marc J. Spears said Butlers wants "just out of Miami, with the exception of Memphis."

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported something similar earlier this month, saying Butler "has no interest in being traded" to Memphis.

Compared to his usual numbers, Butler's production is down a bit this season, as he is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game, although he is shooting a career-best 54.0 percent from the field.

Still, there is a lot to like about Butler from the perspective of a contending team since he is an experienced player who typically raises his game during the postseason.

Butler has twice helped lead the Heat to the NBA Finals, and over the course of four playoff runs in Miami, he boasts averages of 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

After struggling through an injury-riddled 2023-24 campaign that saw them finish a disappointing 27-55, the Grizzlies are back to being one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season.

At 29-15, the Grizzlies are third in the West behind only the 36-8 Oklahoma City Thunder and the 29-14 Houston Rockets.

Jackson, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have all been highly productive for the Grizzlies this season, plus they have gotten solid supporting contributions out of Santi Aldama, Luke Kennard, Scotty Pippen Jr. and rookies Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey.

That type of depth would perhaps make the Grizzlies a tough team to deal with come playoff time, although it can be argued that dealing some of that depth away for another star would make them an even bigger threat.

If the Grizzlies can convince Butler to play and give it his all in Memphis, a core of Jackson, Morant, Bane and Butler would rival any other in the Western Conference.