The mood at the G League showcase in Orlando was that Jimmy Butler would likely remain a member of the Miami Heat past the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The reason was primarily the new NBA CBA, with its tax shelters and trade restrictions: it is very difficult to engineer a deal that works for both sides and gets Butler to one of his preferred destinations (Butler has an impact because he ends up can get out). this season and become a free agent).

What matters is stoking the fire under these conversations this report from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Christmas Day: Jimmy Butler would prefer a trade from Miami before the deadline and has a short list of playoff/contending teams he would most like to be traded to.

Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler favors a move from Miami before the Feb. 6 deadline, league sources told ESPN…

According to league sources, Butler is open to trade destinations such as the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. Multiple teams have called the Heat in the last two weeks to express interest in Butler, but Miami has shown no urgency in the talks as the franchise oversees the first half of the season, these sources said. The Heat, sitting in sixth place in the East, could simply play out the season and wait to see whether Butler decides to do so or not.

On ESPN before pointing this out Christmas Day game list, Charania said the Suns and Warriors are at the top of Butler’s wish list.

Let’s break this all down:

• Since they currently live between the first and second frontcourts, the Heat cannot take back $1 more than they send out in a trade. Most teams Butler wants to go to (e.g. Phoenix) are in the same situation. This has to be an almost dollar-for-dollar trade, which is very difficult to set up. Plus, Miami is currently the sixth seed in the East, has been playing better lately, and is open to just finishing out this season and then seeing what happens this summer with a possible move from Butler (because the teams he wants) Then I don’t have enough space to sign him either).

• Although the Suns reportedly have serious interest in Butler, the only way to make the trade work is to trade Bradley Beal for Butler and another player plus a pick (technically, the Suns could trade Kevin Durant or Devin Booker for exchange butler). didn’t happen). The problem is that Beal has a no-trade clause, no deal can happen without his approval, and there is no indication he would be willing to do so. While Beal has shown interest in Miami in the past, the other challenge for Butler with the Suns is why Miami should play. Beal is not as good a player as Butler at this point in her career, and Beal has two years and $100.8 million guaranteed left on his contract (although the final year is a player option, it is highly unlikely that he will will forego this). Miami isn’t going to trade for another older player who will leave their books unusable for several years.

• It’s well known that the Warriors are looking for a star to use alongside Stephen Curry, but the only way to make this trade work is with a four- or five-for-one trade which Detroit is probably involved as a third team. It could work if the Warriors sent Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Kyle Anderson, although there would likely be moved picks and Detroit in the mix as well. This trade would reduce the Warriors to 11 players on the roster and they would need to sign at least a few players to meet the minimum roster requirements.

If the heat is particularly high on Kuminga and Moody, they might be open to some form of this construction. However, Kuminga will be a restricted free agent, due to be re-signed this summer and is reportedly seeking a four-year deal worth $140 million. Does Miami want to make this bet? Or would the Heat rather play out the season — they’re currently ranked No. 6 — and see what happens with a sign-and-trade for Butler this summer?

• This is how it works with all options. It’s not impossible that a Butler trade could happen before the Feb. 6 deadline, but there’s a reason executives when they met in Florida for the G League exhibition thought a Butler trade would happen is unlikely.