Translation:
Laying all cards on the table, no more pretense.
According to NBA insider Sidery, Butler has informed all teams within the league that he will only sign a contract extension with the Suns.
In short, Butler only wants to be traded from the Heat to the Suns, and other suitors should give up now.
Once this news broke, even the thickest-skinned suitor would know when to back off, leaving the Heat with no choice but to deal with the Suns.
The back-and-forth between Butler and Heat president Pat Riley is fascinating enough to make a movie about it.
Keyboard warrior MVP and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins, who seems to have overheard something from under someone's bed, claims that the Suns have prepared a two-year, 121millioncontractextensionforButler.OncetheSunsacquireButler,Durantisalsoexpectedtotearfullysignatwo−year,120 million contract extension during the offseason this summer.
Whether it's to improve the team's current predicament (16 wins, 19 losses, 12th in the West) or to ensure Durant stays, getting Butler from the Heat has become an urgent matter for the Suns.
Based on previous reports, the Suns plan to trade Beal for Butler, and if traded to the Heat, Beal is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
The problem is that the Heat don't want Beal. Playing for the Suns, he has lost his All-Star luster, averaging less than 20 points per game, and is now just a substitute. His salary for the next two years totals around $100 million, which an unnamed league executive called the biggest junk contract in the NBA.
Also from Sidery's sources, the Suns might have to attach two first-round picks to get rid of Beal, but they only have one pick in 2031, so perhaps they'll have to include Grayson Allen as well.
In summary, while the move of Butler to the Suns faces significant obstacles, at least both sides have openly expressed their intentions, making the direction clear. Naturally, problems will be resolved.
Now, how great would a new Big Three of Booker, Butler, and Durant really be? Perhaps we should put a big question mark there.
What are your thoughts, folks? Feel free to share in the comments section, grab your keyboards, and start typing away!