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The Whiteboard: Who has the leverage in Jimmy Butler trade talks?

By Ti Windisch

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat during the game on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat during the game on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves don’t seem to have much leverage in Jimmy Butler trade talks, but the Miami Heat might not either.

Every trade in every sports league is influenced heavily by leverage, and the current Jimmy Butler trade talks going on in the NBA right now are no exception. Thanks to Butler making his intentions to leave Minnesota known, the Wolves have lost some leverage — everybody knows they need to make a deal pretty soon.

Fortunately for the Timberwolves, some of the other teams that keep sniffing around Butler trades might not have as much leverage as they’d like to either. The most prominent partner in these discussions is the Miami Heat. At first blush it might seem like the Heat could afford to hold off and not bite on Butler right now.

On a certain level, that’s true. Miami is probably going to be a playoff team this season, with or without swinging a trade for Butler. The Heat aren’t winning the title with or without him either, so the team’s 2018-19 floor and ceiling aren’t moving too drastically based on that possible addition.

All of that is fine and good, but acquiring Jimmy Butler has more impact on a franchise than just adding a couple wins to the coming season’s total. Getting a second star is always easier when one star is already around, and Butler is a vocal personality who could help bring more talent to South Beach.

That matters, especially to a franchise like the Heat that enjoys flaunting its legacy and allure. Miami always desires to be a destination for the NBA’s elite players, and having Butler in tow helps with that goal.

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Further motivating the Heat is the fact that there doesn’t seem to be any other obvious route to acquiring a player of that caliber. Assuming Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson and Goran Dragic all accept bloated player options, Miami owes seven players $10 million or more for the 2019-20 season and already has more than $120 million in guaranteed money owed for that season and the one after it.

The Heat thus will not be signing any stars in unrestricted free agency, as they can only offer tiny contracts with the use of some exceptions over the next few summers. That means the only way to get a different star is to have yet another one come up for trade, one that likely does not have such a close connection to Dwyane Wade that provides an easy in when trying to make a deal.

The Miami Heat can talk a big game, but if the Heat want to do more than hope that Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo become superstars they probably need that Jimmy Butler trade to work out.

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