Hello Hoops Heads! Here's the latest in NBA trade rumors.
NBA Trade Rumors: The Miami Heat may trade Jimmy Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks.
With the Miami Heat struggling to find a suitable trade for their star, Jimmy Butler, he has reportedly added another team to his list of preferred destinations. The Milwaukee Bucks were previously ruled out as a possible trade destination for Butler, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Lot of rumblings that the Milwaukee Bucks have also been informed not to trade for Jimmy Butler.@ChrisBHaynes reported earlier the Memphis Grizzlies were told not to. That’s now two playoff teams Butler could be refusing.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 7, 2025
So…does Pat Riley give Jimmy what he wants?
However, they are now apparently back in play as a potential landing spot for Butler. That doesn't mean that he is headed to Milwaukee but it does give Miami more options with them having been lowballed in trade talks thus far.
If the Bucks do make a bid for Butler, they could offer Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and a 2031 first for him. That would be a competitive offer for the Bucks but would potentially leave them with a hole up front. However, it could potentially be worth it to both the Bucks, Butler, and the Heat.
NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors' trade wishlist revealed?
The Golden State Warriors are still searching for upgrades on the trade front, even after making a big trade to acquire Dennis Schroder last month. The Warriors appear to be targeting big men to try and bulk up their frontcourt and they appear to have several centers in mind.
Story: Reporting on NBA trade candidates, including Nikola Vucevic, John Collins, Rob Williams, Jonas Valanciunas, Jusuf Nurkic, and more. Plus, what’s next for the Warriors, Bucks, Suns, and Hornets on @hoopshype. https://t.co/ElZXahaY4y
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 16, 2025
According to Hoops Hype's Mike Scotto, they are eying Chicago Bulls star Nikola Vucevic, Utah Jazz center John Collins, Jonas Valanciunas of the Washington Wizards, and Robert Williams of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Of those players, Vucevic clearly stands out with him having the best season of the centers on this list. He is having a resurgent year, averaging 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and shooting 42.2% from three. That makes him an intriguing trade target for the Warriors.
After all, they haven't had an offensive big man of his caliber during the Steph Curry era. His offense and rebounding would make him a nice fit, though his defense could keep him from closing most games.
Still, he'd be a solid addition and probably wouldn't cost them more than the matching salaries of Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, and a first-round pick. However, any of the four players would be a nice addition with Valanciunas, Williams, and Collins all likely costing the Warriors only second-round picks making them equally as affordable.
NBA Trade Rumors: Brooklyn Nets may be the market for a star.
The Brooklyn Nets are still in the early stages of a rebuild and have already begun to sell off their best players for picks. They recently traded Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers and Dennis Schroeder to the Golden State Warriors.
Be that as it may, they appeared to still be in the market for a star and have recently been linked to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Marc Stein. Antetokounmpo was viewed as being available early on this season, but the Bucks have begun to right the ship.
They are fifth in the East after starting 2-8 and winning the NBA Cup championship, proving that they have enough talent to compete with any team in their conference. That gives the Bucks more time to build around Antetokounmpo but if he were to want out then the Nets are apparently trying to position themselves up to be a landing spot for him.
That appears to be a pipe dream at the moment, given how far away the Nets appear to be from contending. Then again, if they end up with the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, then they may look a lot more attractive.