The Nets have also been linked with Jimmy Butler in the past, with Miami reportedly starting to listen to trade offers for the aging All-Star.
Just don't expect it to come from Brooklyn.
Butler has expressed interest in joining the Nets in the past, and a source close to the situation told the Post that interest remains strong.
However, it is believed that Nets general manager Sean Marks has no intention of parting with the assets he has so diligently amassed after jumping headfirst into a rebuild.
Will the offseason be a different story? Will Butler be signed as an unrestricted free agent? perhaps.
But it's unclear whether the 35-year-old Butler — whose age doesn't seem to align with Brooklyn's schedule — is willing to take a pay cut or a short-term deal.
Or whether the Nets show that desire in the summer.
What is clear is that 1) they are not currently trade partners, and 2) having his name linked to trade rumors is no big deal for Butler.
“I actually like it,” Butler said Wednesday. “It’s good that it’s being talked about. I don’t think there is. [such a] In a sense, it's like a bad reputation. But someone is talking about me getting traded. There are many. ”
Most prominently, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that Miami has been approached for Butler, and that the All-Star would like to play for the Rockets, Mavericks or Warriors.
On Wednesday, Charania added the Suns to his list, but the Nets were obviously left out.
However, my ESPN colleague Bobby Marks pointed out that Phoenix is a second apron team that cannot add salary in any contract, and Bradley Beal has a trade clause.
More importantly, Butler's agent Bernie Lee vociferously denied the report, and Heat owner Mickey Arison retweeted Lee's statement.
Meanwhile, a source close to Butler said, “Brooklyn is and will continue to be his first choice, unless he has a problem opting out, signing as a free agent, and playing out this year.'' he said. However, it is important to note that he is a free agent.
Marks put together a ton of tradeable picks, including 12 first-round picks and 11 more second-round picks.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo is considered the Nets' (and just about every team's) white whale, Butler is getting older, more injury-prone, and starting to show signs of decline.
Butler can now decline his $52.2 million player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent.
But even if the Nets were interested in him in the summer, it would have to be at the right price and on the right terms.
Butler claimed earlier this season that money is not important at this stage of his career.
He was asked again Wednesday whether it was still valid. Isn't money always important?
“That's not true,” Butler insisted. “My kids are important. My happiness is important. My happiness is important and my family is important. Right now it's all about staying healthy and playing basketball. I've come this far. So let's see what happens.”
The same is true in Brooklyn.
Even though a top lottery seed seems unlikely, the Nets' plans remain unchanged.
At 10-14, they actually sit in eighth place in the East and squarely in the play-in range — 15th in the draft, according to Wednesday's standings — just shy of a record tied for eighth-worst. Charlotte, who is only 0.5 games better and three games ahead of that record, is in the top five.
“Given how Brooklyn's season has played out and they are at the bottom of the league, Brooklyn will have to play a G League team to catch up to last place,” a league source told the Post. “There's a good chance they'll do that to finish the season, but it still won't drop them to the bottom.”
As a result, the Nets will not only have four first-round picks in the 2025 draft, but they will also have plenty of cap space to work with.
With $60 million available in the summer, Marks values flexibility above all else, potentially putting that space into free agency in 2026 if needed, but keeping the rebuild short-term. I'm prioritizing that.
“Their reset will involve signing max free agents and draft picks,” a league source said. “They certainly won't be using it for years. It will be the first reset in a year.”
