The Suns have positioned themselves as a top contender to land disgruntled Heat star Jimmy Butler as the NBA trade deadline approaches on Feb. 6.
Phoenix sent its 2031 unprotected first-round pick to Utah for three future first-round picks, the Jazz announced Tuesday.
The Suns will receive the least favorable first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029 among the Jazz’s, Cavaliers’ and Timberwolves’ selections those years.
The 2031 pick marked the only first-round selection the Suns had to trade, which could be indicative that they’re gunning to make an upcoming roster move.
The Jazz now have 11 first-round picks in the next seven years.
NBA insider Marc Stein said that “presumed motivations” for the deal increased Phoenix’s chances “of assembling a multiteam Jimmy Butler trade.”
The six-time All-Star forward has made it clear he wants a trade out of Miami, with ESPN reporting Monday that Butler “tripled down on his trade request.”
Butler reportedly has his sights set on Phoenix.
During Monday’s installment of the “Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said “Jimmy’s No. 1 focus is getting traded, preferably, to the Phoenix Suns. Everything else is secondary — not getting traded to ‘Team X,’ not getting traded to ‘Team Y.”
Butler returned to the Heat lineup for the first time in two weeks in Miami’s 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets last Friday — after serving a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
He recorded 18 points, three rebounds and two assists in Miami’s home loss at Kaseya Center.
The Heat star had fans buzzing when he wore sneakers with Suns colors — orange, purple and yellow — in Tuesday’s 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Suns-Jazz deal came after ESPN reported last week that tensions between Butler and the Heat began before the 2023-24 season when team president Pat Riley called a meeting with center Bam Adebayo to crown him leader of the franchise.
Butler reportedly felt that was a sign he wasn’t in the Heat’s future plans.
ESPN previously reported Butler told Riley he won’t sign an extension with the team and that he plans “to use his $52 million player option for 2025-26 in the offseason only as a trade maneuver.”
Butler is earning $49 million this year after signing a four-year contract extension worth $184 million in 2021.
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