NBA Rumors: The offer that could end up with Jimmy Butler on the Milwaukee Bucks

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat have done nothing but continue their stare-down contest since he first requested a trade earlier this month. The Phoenix Suns have been the team most linked to the 35-year-old player, but executing a trade between them would be complicated. That leaves the Milwaukee Bucks with a window to acquire him while they can. According to reporter Marc Stein, it's not a pipe dream for them.

Stein reported in The Stein Line that league teams see the Bucks as a possible destination for Butler. He also explained why a Butler trade to Milwaukee would be challenging.

"Milwaukee, at minimum, has rival teams wondering if an offer for Butler is looming," Stein wrote. "The Bucks still cannot negotiate for a player in Butler's salary range unless/until they shed Pat Connaughton's $9.4 million salary... or arrive at a Butler trade construction that also sends out Connaughton."

Butler is likely off-limits for Milwaukee until they can find a taker for Connaughton. If they do, things could get very interesting. While finding a new home for Connaughton would be difficult, Stein explained that Miami might have some interest in what the Bucks could offer for Butler for a reason.

The offer the Bucks could make for Butler

"Would the Heat, just to end this exhausting Butler saga as soon as possible, be willing to trade Butler for Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis? Neither player, crucially, has a contract that extends beyond 2025-26, which... is a major priority for Miami," Stein wrote.

Stein also pointed out that the Bucks don't have much to offer to those willing to get rid of Connaughton. "The Bucks, however, currently possess only one tradeable first-round pick (2031) and a tradeable second-round pick to sweeten any deal involving Miami and/or a team taking on Connaughton," Stein wrote.

It's worth noting that although Butler cannot be traded to Milwaukee unless a team acquires Connaughton, they are still being discussed as a destination for him. This implies that this rumor has some basis, although it’s still clear that there would need to be some moving pieces in place beforehand for it to happen.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: La oferta que podría terminar con Jimmy Butler en los Milwaukee Bucks