Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Heat SF Unwilling to Sign Contract Extension with Warriors

When Jimmy Butler first requested a trade from the Heat, he was "open to playing anywhere other than Miami," but he's since indicated that there are a handful of teams he doesn't want to play for long term.

The Golden State Warriors joined the list on Sunday.

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Butler told the Warriors that he's "unwilling to sign an extension" with them, thus ending trade talks between the two teams "for now."

The Warriors seemed like one of the most likely landing spots for Butler along with the Phoenix Suns. Golden State was such a frontrunner that ESPN's Shams Charania called last week's matchup between the Warriors and the Suns "the Jimmy Butler bowl."

The Warriors, currently in 11th place in the West at 24-24, need to find another scoring option alongside Stephen Curry, but they'll have to find it from someone besides Butler unless he changes his mind about his willingness to sign with Golden State.

In the short term, missing out on Butler could be the difference between competing in the playoffs and missing out this season, but it could work out for Golden State in the long term. With Curry in the late stages of his career, the Warriors will soon need to shift their focus toward the future, and having to trade young players or picks for an aging star such as Butler would not set them up well.

The Warriors aren't the only team to find themselves out of the running for Butler. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported in January that the Memphis Grizzlies "along with a few other teams" have been told not to trade for Butler.

With the Warriors now out of the mix, all signs point to the Suns landing Butler. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst reported last week that Phoenix's "top objective" before the deadline is trading for Butler, and Butler is making it easier by telling teams not to bother making a deal for him.

Time is ticking for the Suns, however, as the trade deadline is now just days away.