A more imminent trade might occur before or during this week’s NBA draft, but the Miami Heat may try to move Jimmy Butler this summer or aim to make a deal to acquire a star next to him.
On Tuesday, June 25, Zach Bachar of Bleacher Report speculated that Miami is a strong contender to move up from No. 15 in the draft—possibly all the way into the top 10—in exchange for a particular player who has captured their attention. This might happen through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9).
According to Bachar, “team president Pat Riley has decisions to make with the No. 15 and No. 43 picks in the draft, in addition to managing Butler’s desire for an extension.” “The Heat were reportedly among the teams interested in Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva, who is a first-round target, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. He may be somewhat above Miami’s current draft position.
Da Silva is 220 pounds and measures 6 feet 8 inches tall. The 23-year-old was a three-year starter during his four years of collegiate play, all spent in Boulder with the Buffaloes.
During his senior year, the combo forward led Colorado in scoring with 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, according to Sports Reference. In addition, Da Silva has a lifetime 3-point percentage of 38.6%. Over the last two seasons, he has made 39.4% and 39.5% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report made a player comp to Trey Lyles of the Sacramento Kings in his most recent mock draft, which was released on June 19. He then projected Da Silva to go off the board 14th to the Portland Trailblazers.
His positional size, shooting variety, and general polish, both on and off the court, appear to be appealing to teams, according to Wasserman. His physical limitations may prevent him from playing at both ends of the court, as he might be unable to stop stronger 4s and quicker wings or reach and finish at the rim. Teams that prioritize safety over potential may be lured to da Silva in the late lottery or during the teen years.
In May, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald revealed that Butler is requesting a $113 million, two-year contract extension. With a player option to earn $52.4 million in 2025–2026, Butler’s current three-year, $146.4 million deal includes $48.8 million for this next season.
Butler’s age (he will turn 35 in September) and history of injuries are the problems the Heat have with him. Though he spent five seasons as a player in Miami, he never ever played more than 60 games.
Teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers, who are in various states of desperation to acquire another star this summer, are likely to place a high value on Butler in a deal. In a Butler trade, Miami could free up salary space and acquire assets in the form of young players and/or draft selections. With that extra cash, the team could build a younger squad and increase its chances of acquiring a star in free agency the following summer.
