The trade deadline is still several months away, and one major glitch has already rocked the NBA world. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in his latest Inside Pass that the Miami Heat are open to offers for multiple All-Star Jimmy Butler.

Let’s start with the headlines – Jimmy Butler. Charania detailed options and details in the current situation:

“The Heat are open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right,” league sources told ESPN, and Butler’s agent Bernie Lee has suggested in league circles that Butler is open to targets like two of Texas Open is teams (Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks) and the Golden State Warriors. Butler is from Houston, Texas. Above all, it is assumed that in any profession he prefers a title contender who can win immediately. Teams have also been told that Butler intends to opt out of his contract in the offseason and become a free agent, sources said. The Heat have hovered around the play-in tournament the last two seasons, and with Butler’s contract status, they have been open to trade requests.”

Given Butler’s Houston roots, it’s no surprise that two Texas teams are included. Both the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are playoff-caliber squads, albeit in very different stages. The Mavericks, fresh off a trip to the Finals, are poised for another strong postseason win. They have been in the market for a winger since trading Dorian Finney-Smith, and Butler could seamlessly fill that role. However, integrating him alongside Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving – two other ball-dominant stars – would require significant midseason adjustments.

The Rockets, on the other hand, are a team on the rise. After several difficult seasons, they have moved to third place in the highly competitive Western Conference and have a core of promising young talent. They have reportedly been looking for a veteran winger for some time, with previous ties to stars like Paul George and Kevin Durant. Butler would fit well in their starting lineup, although at 35 years old he doesn’t quite fit the long-term schedule of their youthful core.

Charania stated the following to the Golden State Warriors:

“According to sources, the Warriors want to sign a star player – a playmaker and a scorer – in addition to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Golden State signed Utah Jazz stars Lauri Markkanen and Paul George as free agents last offseason and is expected to remain aggressive this term. A telltale moment occurred for the Warriors on Friday night when Curry, Green and coach Steve Kerr discussed fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga taking over and Green accepted a bench role for Kuminga to start at power forward.

Rivals executives will certainly be keeping an eye on Kuminga’s play as he is expected to be a restricted free agent in July. In his career, Kuminga has played 30 minutes or more in 41 games, averaging 20 points, 54% field goals and 40% from 3. He has played 30 minutes or more in two of the last three games – including a 33-point performance on Dec. 5 against the Rockets and then 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals against the Timberwolves on December 8th. In 191 games with less than 30 minutes of action, his averages are 10.5 points, 50% shooting and 32% from 3.

The next two months leading up to the February deadline will shape the Warriors’ present and future. Will the star they are looking for be found internally at Kuminga – or externally?”

Finally, the Golden State Warriors were looking for a star to complement the aging Stephen Curry. Similar to the Rockets, they have enticing young talent on offer, including Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Brandon Podziemski. Butler fits Curry’s schedule and would give the Warriors their most versatile wing since Durant.

Assuming Pat Riley abides by Butler’s wishes, it appears he will head west if/should a trade happen – which is good news for the Sixers and every team in the Eastern Conference.

Charania also included information on other key trade deadline candidates, starting with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets:

“The Nets have drawn trade interest and initiated exploratory discussions around forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Dennis Schroder, sources said. Brooklyn has significant cap and asset flexibility—an NBA-high salary cap space of over $60 million next summer, as well as 12 first-round picks and 11 second-round picks eligible for trade—to make the franchise fit for the positioning the future. After trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks last summer, the Nets were viewed as sellers.

According to sources, the Warriors are among the teams that have expressed interest in these three players. The 31-year-old Schroder is having an outstanding season with a salary of $13 million, averaging 18.6 points and 6.5 assists.

Rival teams believe the Warriors are willing to use injured defenseman De’Anthony Melton’s expiring $12.8 million salary along with draft incentives to complete a potential deal for that salary range.”

All three – Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schroder – are in their prime and do not fit the schedule of a team that is just beginning to rebuild. Big wings who can defend or shoot are always in demand, so moving Johnson or Finney-Smith shouldn’t be a challenge. Schroder, meanwhile, is having one of his best seasons statistically and will likely attract interest from multiple teams.

The focus is on two other young rebuilders – the Portland Trail Blazers and the Washington Wizards. Charania stated the following:

Portland Trail Blazers

Multiple teams have begun expressing interest in a group of Portland’s veterans — Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Robert Williams III — as the Trail Blazers make roster decisions, sources said.

Washington Wizards

Multiple rival teams are expected to pursue Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, sources said. Kuzma, a proven 2020 NBA champion with the Lakers, is in the second season of a four-year, $100 million contract. The 6-foot-3, versatile Kuzma has averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds this season.”

It seems like Jerami Grant has been considered a trade candidate since he signed his contract extension with Portland. It makes perfect sense to move him considering he’s a player who excels with the ball in his hands and doesn’t fit into his schedule at all. Robert Williams III is an interesting trade candidate. He had been battling injuries for a long time, but finally returned to the pitch and performed well. Moving him would open up even more playing time for their rookie Donovan Clingan.

A somewhat surprising name on the trading radar is Anfernee Simons. Despite being relatively young and a proven player, he finds himself in a crowded Portland backfield with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe competing for minutes. In the right role or situation, he could seriously help a team.

In a far less surprising development, the Washington Wizards are reportedly looking to move on from Kyle Kuzma. With multiple teams already expressing interest, retaining Kuzma doesn’t fit with the Wizards’ current rebuilding trajectory.

That’s a lot of trading chatter for early December, but it sets the stage for what could be an exciting and eventful trade session. As teams position themselves for playoff pushes or future rebuilds, expect the speculation and deals to only increase from here on out.