According to authoritative reports from NBA insider journalist Sidery, Jimmy Butler has officially stated his position to all NBA teams, indicating that he is only willing to sign a contract extension with the Phoenix Suns.
In short, Butler's intentions are clear; he hopes to join the Suns through a trade with the Heat, while other interested teams must adjust their strategies accordingly.
This news undoubtedly pours cold water on the teams that have been eyeing Butler, and it also places the Heat in a position where they must seriously consider trading with the Suns.
The battle between Butler and Heat President Pat Riley can be described as an extraordinary contest, with its ups and downs worthy of being adapted for the big screen.
It is worth noting that former NBA player and well-known commentator Perkins revealed that the Suns have prepared a two-year contract extension worth a total of $121 million for Butler. It is speculated that once the Suns successfully acquire Butler, Durant will also sign a contract extension with the team for the same amount during the summer offseason.
For the Suns, whether it is to improve their current record of 16 wins and 19 losses, ranking 12th in the West, or to stabilize Durant's mindset, bringing in Butler from the Heat has become an urgent matter.
There were previous reports that the Suns were interested in trading Bradley Beal for Butler, and Beal was also willing to waive his trade veto power after the deal was reached. However, the Heat is not interested in Beal, believing that he has lost his All-Star luster, averaging less than 20 points per game, and is currently only a bench player for the Suns. His salary for the next two years totals approximately $100 million, which some league executives view as a "bad contract."
Sidery further reported that the Suns may need to attach two first-round picks to unload Beal's contract burden. However, the Suns currently only have one first-round pick in 2031, so they may need to include players like Grayson Allen as part of the trade package.
Despite the challenges in Butler's path to joining the Suns, both sides have clearly expressed their willingness to cooperate, and it is believed that as negotiations progress, the problems will be solved one by one.
As for the new trio of Booker, Butler, and Durant, how their future will unfold remains uncertain. We look forward to fans sharing their opinions and insights in the comment section.