With the Heat owing a first-round selection to the Thunder as early as in 2025 and to the Hornets as late as in 2028, that prohibits Miami from trading an unprotected pick from 2025 through 2029. That’s why only one of the Heat’s 2030 or 2031 first-round picks is currently available to be dealt without protections.

MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley turns 80 in a couple of months. The Miami Heat president has not revealed any retirement timetable. He still wears impeccable suits, shakes hands with as firm of a grip as anyone, knows all eyes are on him when he walks into just about any room.

When the first Jimmy Butler trade rumors started to trickle in earlier in the season, they focused largely on four teams: the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

For example, the Heat can’t take back more salary in a trade than it sends out as a team above the first apron. Then teams above the second apron like the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks can’t aggregate salaries in a trade or send out cash in a trade, along with not being able to take back more salary in a trade than they send out.

In my opinion, the Warriors continue to be the team rumored to be in the mix for Butler that makes the most sense. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are Hall-of-Famers who aren’t getting younger. The question is whether they can get Butler without decimating the younger transitional core they’ve assembled.

As the Jimmy Butler saga proceeds, one potential trade partner would reportedly be willing to give him a new deal. NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday

If the Miami Heat fail to trade Jimmy Butler during his suspension, the 35-year-old could finish the season with the organization.

It’s been a rough stretch for the Miami Heat, and the Jimmy Butler situation is at the heart of it. A year ago, when the Heat were at a crossroads, they could’ve made a move to offload Butler and reset,

Pat Riley turns 80 in a couple of months. The Miami Heat president has not revealed any retirement timetable. He still wears impeccable suits, shakes hands with as firm of a grip as anyone, knows all eyes are on him when he walks into just about any room.