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Ever since he arrived in South Beach in 2019, Jimmy Butler has become a valuable piece for the Miami Heat. In five years, Butler has led the team to a couple of NBA Finals appearances, in 2020 and 2023. However, both runs flopped, and Miami could be looking for a change.
With only a week remaining until the NBA trade deadline, it appears that a deal involving Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson is possible. Earlier this season, the Golden State Warriors gave subtle hints of wanting to trade Thompson and slowly begin their rebuild phase. The Heat have already executed a similar move after trading Kyle Lowry, 37, for a much younger Terry Rozier, 29.
Having Thompson as their veteran leader could do wonders for the Heat considering all the championship experience he has gained throughout his career.
As per the "All U Can Heat" website, a trade involving Miami's Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin for Golden State's Klay Thompson and Jonathan Kuminga could be in the works.
Should the Heat trade Jimmy Butler for Klay Thompson?
Despite not being able to bring home a title for the Miami Heat throughout his tenure with the team, nobody can deny the greatness that Jimmy Butler has displayed in his five years in South Beach. As such, is it the right move for the Heat to let go of Butler?
While Thompson is a four-time champion, he isn't the same player he was during his championship runs. The 33-year-old is averaging 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. His shooting percentage has also dropped to 42.1% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
As for Jimmy Butler, he's still putting up All-Star-worthy numbers with 21.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, and 1.2 spg. His shooting accuracy is also better than Thompson's, with 42.6% from long range and 49.1% overall. Letting go of Butler for Thompson would be a downgrade for the Miami Heat.
