According to CBS Sports, the Miami Heat are addressing Jimmy Butler’s reported desire for a trade and expect to beat the Boston Celtics for a title this spring. Bill Reiter.

According to Reiter, “The Heat recognize that the Celtics are the best team in the East, but do not view them as unbeatable.”

Reiter noted that the Heat believe that advancing from the play-in round, where the team has appeared two seasons in a row, is “critical” to the success of these playoffs.

The Heat may have to do this without Butler. After the star said Thursday that he wasn’t happy playing in Miami, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported that Butler had “indicated” to the team that he wanted a trade.

Charania and Windhorst reported that Butler is “open to playing somewhere other than Miami.”

According to Charania and Windhorst, Butler plans to “participate in all team activities and do whatever the Heat asks of him during this process.”

The report came days after Heat president Pat Riley made a definitive statement that the team would not trade Butler.

Butler has yet to score in double figures in points after five illness-related absences in two contests and was visibly discouraged in his postgame interview following Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Should Butler’s public dissatisfaction with the situation in Miami force Riley to act, the franchise’s perception of itself as a title contender will influence the return they seek for Butler.

According to Reiter, the Heat have decided in internal discussions that in a potential trade for Butler, the team is looking for “a key piece that will help them win now.”

ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel recently reported that the Heat expressed interest in Jonathan Kuminga during trade talks with the Golden State Warriors, but the Warriors were “not eager to include him in trade talks.”

Charania previously reported that Butler’s agent had indicated he would prefer a trade to the Warriors, Houston Rockets or Dallas Mavericks, but the latest report from Charania and Windhorst says he is open to being traded to any team.

Even if they limit themselves to dealing with teams that could take on Butler’s $49 million salary for this season in addition to his $52 million player option for 2025-26, this will give the Heat maximum flexibility to make a trade to find one who strengthens their status as a contender until February 6th.