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Are the Toronto Raptors in the mix for a Jimmy Butler trade?

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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Jan 22 2025, 5:19 pm
Are the Toronto Raptors in the mix for a Jimmy Butler trade?
Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images

Five and a half years ago, Jimmy Butler was a major thorn in the side of Toronto Raptors fans during an epic seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers, which was arguably the most memorable in franchise history.

But Butler’s stint in Philadelphia ended with Kawhi Leonard’s iconic shot, as he ended up in a sign-and-trade deal later that offseason that saw him end up with the Miami Heat, his home since the 2019-20 season.

We’ll skip a few chapters, but in case you haven’t heard, the ongoing Butler trade saga remains the hottest topic in NBA circles, with a public trade request and the team-issued suspension highlighting a tumultuous few weeks in Miami.

And although they may seem like an unlikely trade partner, the Raptors have somehow found themselves in conversation for the six-time All-Star.

What’s been said about Toronto and Butler?

Outside of the coffee connoisseur Butler having a ready-made partnership available with local shop Jimmy’s Coffee should he come to town, there has been at least a bit of buzz about a potential trade.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel‘s Ira Winderman floated the Raptors as a possible trade destination for the 35-year-old Butler while mentioning the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks.

Solely looking at the NBA standings, it should be noted that a trade of Butler to Toronto, on its surface, doesn’t make much sense for either side.

While Butler may not be happy on a 21-21 Miami team, it’s unlikely a star player used to competing for championships would be any more content on a Toronto team that sits 14th in the East with a record of 11-32.

But what about a short-term move, with Butler later being swapped in the summer to a new destination? Or what about the Raptors suddenly pivoting their franchise timeline and looking to team up Butler with young assets in Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley and push to be competitive next season? In a sense, a Butler move could catalyze a rapid rebuild, even if that doesn’t seem to be the mantra of Toronto’s front office.

But rather than being a direct trade partner, it’s far more likely that the deal eventually becomes a three-or-four team move, as implied by the Toronto Star‘s Doug Smith.

Do the Raptors have the ability to trade for Butler?

The short answer is yes.

It doesn’t take much on the Fanspo or ESPN trade machines to make the money work for Butler’s $48.7 million salary, with his deal expiring after next season.

With Bruce Brown’s salary of $23 million (expiring this summer), Jakob Poeltl at $19.5 million (two years left after this one), Kelly Olynyk at $12.8 million (one year after this one), or Chris Boucher at $10.8 million (expiring this summer), the Raptors have four veteran players on tradeable contracts that could be used as pieces in any Butler deal.

It would seem likely any Butler trade deals involving Toronto that doesn’t involve a core player such as Barnes or Barrett would also involve a series of draft picks, which a rebuilt Raptors squad might not want to part with.

But the Raptors do own all their first-round picks moving forward, as well as a first-round pick from Indiana acquired for Pascal Siakam last season.

In short: a Butler trade, however unlikely, is seemingly possible with the two teams. With the trade deadline just over two weeks away, we’re sure we haven’t heard the last of the rumours for the Raptors this season.

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