Both sides are angry Jimmy Butler stalemate, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be traded by Feb. 6, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Butler’s comments after Thursday’s game about hoping, “I’m getting my joy back from playing basketball.” came after a conversation earlier in the day between his representatives and heat officials, sources tell the authors. Butler was upset because he and his agent believed the team implied he hadn’t played hard when he returned to the lineup in Wednesday’s game against New Orleans, which he finished with nine points and four rebounds in 25 minutes , after missing five games with an illness.

Team officials claim Thursday’s meeting was a “macro-level discussion” that addressed concerns about Butler’s behavior as trade rumors have increased in recent weeks.

Butler and his agent claim the team threatened to suspend him after the Pelicans game, Jackson tweets, but Heat officials deny that ever happened.

With Butler’s future in Miami almost guaranteed to end after this season, if not sooner, Jackson and Chiang see three possible resolutions. The most urgent would be a trade before next month’s deadline, but the writers point to issues with each of Butler’s preferred targets.

If he is sent to the warriorMiami would almost certainly have to win back Andrew Wiggins’ contract and paid him $28.2 million and $30.2 million over the next two years. Jackson and Chiang point out that the Heat’s projected tax bill of more than $15 million is due in part to providing high salaries Duncan Robinson And Terry Rozier. Another big contract for a non-All-Star would worsen the team’s financial situation Bam Adebayo to a maximum offer and Tyler Herro an average of $30 million per season.

The same problem exists with this Sunsas the authors state that Miami has “no interest” in taking it over Bradley Bealwho is still entitled to $160 million. However, they believe the equation could change if Kevin Durant decides to leave Phoenix after a disappointing start to the season.

Butler has also reportedly expressed a desire to join Rockets or outsiderBut Jackson and Chiang point out that Houston has denied interest in signing older players, while Dallas doesn’t have enough trade assets to interest Miami.

The Nuggets The offer could result in another possibility Michael Porter Jr.explain the authors. However, they point out that he was never an All-Star either and is owed $38.3 million and $40.8 million over the next two seasons. A third team would be required to complete most of these deals, but Detroit is currently the only option with wiggle room at $14 million.

Butler could also be traded this summer, either picking up his $52.4 million player option or declining it and working with the team on a sign-and-trade. The problem with that would be that most teams wouldn’t be able to fully absorb Butler’s salary and would have to issue contracts to accommodate him.

If Miami isn’t interested in what Butler’s suitors have to offer, it could take a third or fourth team to take on that unwanted salary. Jackson and Chiang estimate that up to 11 teams can create space in the offseason to facilitate a trade.

If Miami could trade Butler without getting his salary back in return, the team would have a trade exception equal to what Butler will make in the first season of his new contract, along with a non-taxable mid-level exception worth $14.1 million US dollars and the semi-annual exception of US$5.1 million. They would have 10 players under contract – possibly 11 if Keshad Johnson exercises his $1.9 million player option at a total cost of about $141 million, about $13.6 million under the projected salary cap.

The final option is for Butler to sign elsewhere in free agency. However, the authors believe this is less likely as currently only Brooklyn has enough cap space to offer a deal in his desired salary range without the Heat’s help.