Jimmy Butler wears Phoenix Suns-themed shoes in Miami Heat loss to Portland Trail Blazers as trade rumors swirl

CNN
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Miami ahead Jimmy Butler appeared to give a nod to trade rumors about a move to Phoenix, showing for the Heat’s 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in a pair of Suns-themed colorway shoes.

The six-time NBA All-Star returned to the lineup Friday after serving a seven-game suspension for “several instances of conduct that was detrimental to the team throughout the season and especially the last few weeks.”

But his choice of footwear, as well as his apparent decision to sit away from the team during one clamp on Tuesday, suggesting he still wants out of Miami before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Suns are at the top of Butler’s preferred destinations, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“Jimmy’s number one focus is to be traded, preferably to the Phoenix Suns. Everything else is secondary,” Windhorst continued The Hoop Collective podcast on Monday.

“Not getting traded to team X, not getting traded to team Y, getting traded to the Phoenix Suns. And so anything you want to bring is rational, if it doesn’t mean getting traded to the Suns, Jimmy’s not going to be interested in that right now.”

Butler’s appearance on the field in the shoes came just hours after that revealed that the Suns had traded their 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks, according to Reuters.

Phoenix acquired the least favorable first-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves or Jazz in 2025, with the latter’s pick protected. It will also receive the least favorable pick by the same teams in 2027, and again in 2029, with the Timberwolves’ pick protected that year.

The move to essentially triple the number of first-round picks gives the Suns more to play with in any potential trade deal, which could prove crucial in a move for Butler. It’s an obvious decision to prioritize finding an elite-level player as soon as possible to complement Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, with the latter now 36 years old and Phoenix currently sitting at 21-21 and 10th in the West.

It might be better for all parties if that player turns out to be Butler. The Heat’s loss to the Blazers was their fourth in five games, and even though it was a head coach Erik Spoelstra has insisted the team remain professional, constant speculation about the forward’s future cannot be helpful.

Butler recorded 13 points, four rebounds and eight assists on Tuesday night. Portland’s Anfernee Simons had 24 points on a night in which seven Blazers scored in double figures, including former Suns player Deandre Ayton, who also contributed 15 rebounds.

Ayton’s eight points during a 21-8 Portland run early in the third quarter proved to be the most decisive stretch of the game, putting his team up 86-63. The Heat would get back to within seven of their opponents in the fourth before three free throws by Jerami Grant sealed the win with 35 seconds left.