NBA Trade Rumors: 3-Team Blockbuster That Would Get Butler to Phoenix

Jimmy Butler wants to go to the Phoenix Suns (likely because his other preferred targets are not interested in pursuing him). But the Miami Heat have no interest in taking on Bradley Beal as a return.

With this conundrum, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report has put his trade machine on full blast, and come up with a proposed three-team blockbuster that makes it all work. As follows:

Phoenix Suns Receive:

Jimmy Butler
Top-45-protected 2029 second-round pick from Orlando

Miami Heat Receive:

Jonathan Isaac
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2026 second-round pick from Phoenix (via Denver)
2031 first-round pick swap from Phoenix

Orlando Magic Receive:

Bradley Beal
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

The first big caveat here is that Beal would need to waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Orlando Magic. But given the team's true contender status this season, it's a possibility.

Now that that's out of the way, let's look at why each team would do this hypothetical deal:

The Suns go all-in, "for real, this time" as Bailey says. The 'Big 3' with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal didn't work, but substitute Butler in for Beal, and this 'Big 3' has way more bite, and more of a winning pedigree.

The Heat get to unload their unhappy superstar, and land some good assets in return (as opposed to losing him for nothing as a free agent this summer). The 6'10" Isaac is finally healthy, though he's only playing limited minutes and is not close yet to returning to his 2019-20 dynamic defensive form before he had to sit out, essentially, three full seasons. But he's only 27, and it still could come back.

Caldwell-Pope is another defensive stalwart, on the perimeter, and between he and Isaac, they make up for the intensity on that side of the floor that they lose with Butler's absence. Those two plus Bam Adebayo make up an elite defensive trio.

As for the Magic, they could use another efficient scorer, which they would presumptively get in Beal. Bailey writes that "the Magic's points per 100 possessions ranked in the 29th percentile when (Paolo) Banchero, (Franz) Wagner and KCP were all on the floor this season". Granted, they weren't on the floor together that much as Banchero and Wagner have suffered extended injury absences.

But Banchero is back as of Friday, though Wagner isn't close to returning from his torn oblique. Beal's added scoring will certainly help keep the Magic afloat. And, as Bailey notes, there are plenty of strong defensive players around him to cover for Beal's inefficiency on that end of the floor.

It's an ambitious, bold proposal, but with Butler's suitors seemingly few and far between, this might be an intriguing option.