Suns-Jazz deal triggers Jimmy Butler trade

On Tuesday evening, The Phoenix Suns decided to make a move their 2031 first-round pick — the one and only first-rounder left at their disposal after pledging their futures in recent years — to the Utah Jazz in exchange for three first-rounders. Those three first-rounders from the Jazz the Suns will get will be the least favorable of all the first-rounders Utah owns in 2025, 2027 and 2029 — all of which could be late first-round picks.

Regardless, with the Suns in a state of desperation amid all their struggles this season, something had to give. About their commercial interest in Jimmy Butler may be the league’s worst-kept secret, and many analysts believe the Suns made a trade that gave up a 2031 first-rounder (a pick that could be a top-10 pick given the franchise’s long-term outlook) just like that they could cheat The Miami Heat or any other team that might be involved in facilitating such a trade.

“According to a source familiar with the Heat’s plans, this is one of the steps toward trading Jimmy Butler.” Picks and possibly a couple of players would then come to the Heat for Jimmy, which will be a deal with at least four teams, and quite possibly more,” Heat reporter Ira Winderman wrote.

This echoed the sentiment from longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, who also believes the Suns are preparing for a bigger trade for Butler.

“Among the supposed motives for Phoenix to trade its 2031 first-round pick without protecting Utah for three likely late first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029: Increasing the Suns’ chances of making a multi-team Jimmy Butler trade,” Stein wrote .

Those picks could end up in the lottery as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ players are involved in the first round and look set for a multi-year battle. But a lot can happen in the span of a year, let alone four years, so perhaps the Suns’ gambit could be a masterful one as they prepare to make another win-win trade.

Will trading Jimmy Butler solve the Suns’ problems?

Ever since the Suns went all-in and traded Kevin Durant in 2023, their problem has been deep. They have a shallow roster that lacks the two-way prowess to compete with the giants of the association. Trading for Jimmy Butler will helpbut it’s not as if acquiring him will be a panacea for everyone, especially now that he’s 35 years old.

Butler, to say the least, has a long track record of being an outstanding player in the playoffs. But first, the Suns have to make sure they get there. They are currently 21-21, good for 10th in the conference, so if Butler lands in Phoenix, he will need to stay healthy to help their regular season campaign.