Trade rumors about Butler, Ingram and the rest of the NBA
Our Insider of the NBA reviews his notebook to give us an idea of what the teams are talking about just days before the start of the trade season.
The NBA is entering a turning point in the calendar. Teams have surpassed the 20-game mark and team executives teams are conducting evaluations on their own rosters and players across the country as two critical dates approach.
He Sunday December 15most free agents who signed in the offseason are eligible to be traded. And then most of the general managers and team officials will arrive at the ‘G League Winter Showcase’ in Orlando, Florida, December 19-22. Although most teams have already completed 20-game checkpoints with their counterparts across the league, talks typically heat up in January and closer to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Every trade deadline period, there are players who emerge as key figures to watch, those who could change the balance of power in the NBA. This season, all eyes will be on the six-time All-Star from Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler, and in the former All-Star of New Orleans Pelicans, Brandon Ingram.
Butler, 35, is one of the NBA’s elite competitors and a consistent postseason player. His teams have made the playoffs in 12 of his first 13 seasons, including the previous five seasons in Miami, where he has led the Heat to two NBA Finals berths and an additional appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. Ingram is in his sixth year in New Orleans and has been the most consistent Pelican during that span, earning two postseason berths in the last three years.
Both Butler and Ingram are essentially in contract seasons. Ingram becomes an unrestricted free agent in July after his $36 million deal for this season expires. Butler has $49 million on his contract for this season, with a $52 million player option for 2025-26. The parties did not reach an extension last summer. The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and reaching a deal if the proposal is right, league sources told AM850, and Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that Butler is open to destinations like two of the Texas teams (Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks) and the Golden State Warriors. Butler is a native of Houston, Texas. Above all, however, he is believed to prefer a title contender who wins now in any trade. Teams have also been informed that Butler intends to opt out of his deal in the offseason and become a free agent, sources said. The Heat have hovered around the play-in tournament for the past two seasons, and with Butler’s contractual status, they have been open to trade inquiries.
Butler has been professional all season, by all accounts, and has an affinity for Miami, where he even opened his first coffee shop “BIGFACE” in the city’s Design District. He has also produced on the court: 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting a career-best 55.7% from the field, his fewest attempts since 2013-14 (11.3). . The Heat (12-10) have won three straight and five of their last seven.
Sources said the Warriors are looking to add a star player, a playmaker, a scorer, along with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Golden State looked for the star of the Utah Jazz, Lauri Markkanen already Paul George as a free agent last offseason, and is expected to remain aggressive at this deadline. A telling moment came for the Warriors on Friday night, when Curry, Green and Coach Steve Kerr They talked about how this was the time for Jonathan Kumingathe fourth-year forward, took over and Green accepted a backup role to make Kuminga the starter at power forward.
Rival executives are surely watching Kuminga’s play closely, as he will become a restricted free agent in July. In his career, Kuminga has played 30 minutes or more in 41 games, averaging 20 points, 54% shooting from the field and 40% from the three-point line. He has played 30 minutes or more in two of the last three games, including a 33-point performance on December 5 against the Rockets and then 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals against the Timberwolves on December 8. In 191 games with less than 30 minutes of action, his averages are 10.5 points, 50% shooting and 32% from the three-point line.
The next two months leading up to the February deadline will shape the Warriors’ present and future. Will the star they seek be found internally with Kuminga or externally?
Ingram, for his part, made a radical change in recent weeks, signing with Klutch Sports Group for his new representation with agents Shy Saee, Mike George and CEO Rich Paul. To understand how Ingram got here, it’s important to study the offseason.
The Pelicans and Ingram held talks about a contract extension in addition to canvassing the league for a trade. Ingram’s previous representation was seeking $50 million per season in a contract extension, sources said, which was near his maximum figure. No agreement occurred. The Pelicans, already over the luxury tax line this season, face higher salary cap bills for years to come. Executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin has taken a sustainable approach to building the roster without having to pay taxes (New Orleans has never been a tax-paying team), but signing Ingram to a costly extension would push the Pelicans not only above the tax but also the first platform, further restricting how they add to their roster. The acquisition of Dejounte Murray off-season and the recent extension of Trey Murphy III have raised the Pelicans’ payroll next season to $157 million, $31 million below the luxury tax.
The Pelicans discussed trades with several teams over the summer, but no concrete offer made sense. According to sources told AM850, the Minnesota Timberwolves showed some interest and would have had to put together an exchange concept around Karl-Anthony Towns by Ingram. However, the window to get a deal done for both teams had to come during the 2023-24 season, not in the offseason, because Towns would still be under his old contract.
Signing Towns, entering the first year of a four-year, $224 million supermax contract, would have made a trade extremely difficult, especially since New Orleans selected Yves Missi, the No. 21 overall pick, who has showed glimpses as a high-level center of the future.
So the Pelicans stood their ground and believed the current roster was the most talented ever assembled in New Orleans. And the case is strong for that. The Pelicans’ top rotation players looked promising in the role heading into the season: Ingram, Zion Williamson, Murray, Herb Jones, Murphy, CJ McCollum, Missi, Jose Alvarado and Daniel Theis. However, throughout the season there have been a series of injuries.
The Pelicans currently have a 5-20 record, are in last place in the Western Conference and now Ingram is sidelined indefinitely due to a significant left ankle sprain. Williamson also remains sidelined indefinitely due to a left hamstring strain suffered on November 6. The Pelicans’ three All-Stars (Ingram, Williamson and Murray) have yet to play together. Teams have already begun to express interest in Pelicans supporting players like Jones and McCollum.
Now, Ingram’s new representation will continue to be in constant dialogue with Griffin about the 27-year-old’s future. Because of their financial situation, the Pelicans are unlikely to meet Ingram’s current salary on an annual basis in an extension, making the trade route much more likely than a long-term deal, league sources said. However, New Orleans highly values Ingram and is expected to keep the extension door open with him, those sources said.
Ingram has averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists this season.
Beyond Butler and Ingram, there are many more fundamental players who are ready to alter the dynamic in the NBA
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have received interest in some of their players in recent days and have begun exploratory talks regarding forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, as well as point guard Dennis Schrodersources indicated. Brooklyn has built up significant salary and asset flexibility (an NBA-high $60 million-plus cap hit next summer, plus 12 first-round picks and 11 second-round picks eligible for trade) to position the franchise for the future. After trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks last summer, the Nets are viewed as sellers.
The Warriors are among the teams that have expressed interest in those three players, sources said. Schroder, 31, is having an outstanding season with averages of 18.6 points and 6.5 assists and with a salary of just $13 million.
Rival teams believe the Warriors are open to using injured guard De’Anthony Melton’s $12.8 million expired salary along with draft incentives to reach a potential deal in that salary range.
Indiana Pacers
After losing both J centersAmes Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson due to Achilles tendon ruptures, the Pacers are actively searching for a backup center, sources said.
Phoenix Suns
According to sources, there is optimism that the MVP candidate Kevin Durant He could return from a sprained ankle as early as Friday against the Utah Jazz or as late as Sunday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Suns are 11-2 with Durant in the lineup this season and 1-9 without the two-time Finals MVP.
As Phoenix mulls trades, they have a 2031 first-round pick and three second-round picks available to be offered in potential trades.
Portland Trail Blazers
Several teams have begun to express interest in a group of Portland veterans (Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Robert Williams III) as the Trail Blazers make roster decisions, sources said.
Washington Wizards
Several contending teams are expected to pursue Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, sources said. Kuzma, a proven NBA champion on the 2020 Lakers, is in the second season of a four-year, $100 million deal. The 6-foot-9, versatile Kuzma has averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds this season.
