Grizzlies favorites to land Butler if Miami moves on

Any organization that trades for Jimmy Butler will also acquire a ticking time bomb. The Heat squeezed out every pleasant moment they could, including two NBA Finals appearances, before the inevitable detonation. Butler has a habit of ensuring the explosion is as loud as possible on his way out.

The Butler-Heat breakup has been brewing since Miami refused to offer the six-time All-Star a contract extension, forcing Butler to play this season without long-term financial security.

The Heat hesitated to extend Butler because of his infrequent availability and advancing age. Butler has a $52-million player option for next season but has indicated he'll decline it, allowing him to enter free agency.

Then, Butler declared he probably couldn't find joy playing in Miami last Thursday. ESPN soon after reported that Butler formally told the Heat that he wants to play anywhere but Miami.

The Heat suspended Butler for the next seven games for conduct detrimental to the team and announced they're open to trading him. So, what does the future hold for the 35-year-old forward?

Where will Butler land after the trade deadline?

Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley is as secure as any NBA executive. The notoriously hard-nosed Riley won't be bullied into making a move that doesn't benefit Miami.

The Heat could keep Butler if they don't receive a worthy trade package, but that'd create an awkward final few months of the season, and they'd get nothing in return when he leaves next offseason. Even if the Heat have to sell low, receiving some assets for Butler is better than nothing.

But that's what makes these trade discussions complicated. The Heat aren't interested in a rebuild. They want players who can immediately contribute.

However, there's not a robust market for an aging, expensive star who rarely plays full seasons and is a perpetual headache. Plus, Butler's high salary complicates a trade given the restrictions for clubs over the NBA's tax apron. If a trade does happen, it'll likely include more than two teams.

The Grizzlies are a practical landing spot and the favorite on theScore Bet/ESPN Bet. They need a quality wing creator and have enough depth with the NBA's highest-scoring bench to gift Miami quality pieces. Butler's gritty, defensive-minded approach fits the league's fifth-best defense. Memphis has the West's third-best record but needs a clutch, All-Star-level scoring wing to be a true contender. Butler's character issues could present a problem in a shaky Memphis culture, but he makes sense from a basketball perspective.

The Warriors are an obvious option as they cling onto a play-in spot and Steph Curry's declining stardom. Golden State desperately needs a secondary scorer alongside Curry. Butler's career timeline aligns with Curry and Draymond Green. However, the Warriors are reportedly not enthusiastic about mortgaging their future in a trade for Butler, who only slightly raises their ceiling. The Heat want Jonathan Kuminga in a deal as a young building block, but Golden State is understandably unwilling to part with him.

The Rockets could assemble an intriguing offer without giving up any of their young core. They have plenty of depth, future cap flexibility, and a hoist of draft picks. Houston also needs a reliable shot-creator to generate late-game offense. It's one of the few teams that'd benefit from Butler's presence and can provide the Heat with valuable assets. Butler could be the missing piece to a championship run for the 2-seed Rockets, even if he's a short-term rental.

The Suns have been the most aggressive team pursuing Butler, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst. They also have the most complicated path to acquiring him. Phoenix is 15-18 and the 12th seed in the West. It desperately needs to make a splash to salvage its season, but the Suns would have to ship out Bradley Beal to land Butler.

Beal has an annual salary similar to Butler's, but he has a no-trade clause. Miami wants nothing to do with Beal, who's been a disaster for Phoenix since the team acquired him. The Suns would need to find a third team if they want to land Butler and get rid of Beal, and Beal would need to approve of the club to waive his no-trade clause. It's an uphill battle for Phoenix, but Butler would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Beal.

How much is Butler really worth? His scoring is down, but he's having one of the most efficient seasons of his career. He's only two years removed from carrying the Heat to the NBA Finals, but he's not getting any younger. Dealing with Butler's difficult persona was worth it when he was in his late 20s. Inevitably declining production, injury issues, and obvious attitude problems might make an organization hesitate before bringing him in. There's only a month left for the Heat to trade Butler before the situation in South Beach becomes even more uncomfortable.

Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.