Memphis Grizzlies Made ‘Respectable’ Offer for Jimmy Butler Before Trade Deadline
Following the Denver Nuggets’ decision to part ways with head coach Michael Malone, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald shared that the Nuggets were not among the teams pursuing Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler prior to the February trade deadline.
However, another team that made a serious attempt to land Butler was the Memphis Grizzlies, who also made headlines recently by firing their head coach. According to Jackson, the Grizzlies expressed interest in acquiring Butler before the deadline and submitted a “decent” offer.
When pressed on social media by a user for details of the proposal, Jackson declined to name specific players or assets involved but reaffirmed that Memphis’ offer was viewed as a solid one.
Despite the Grizzlies’ interest, Butler ultimately ended up elsewhere. Earlier this year, he was dealt to the Golden State Warriors in a massive five-team blockbuster. In exchange, the Heat received a package including Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell, and a protected first-round pick.
Butler spent more than five seasons in Miami and made a significant impact during his time with the franchise. He earned two All-Star selections, led the league in steals per game in 2020-21, and was the heart of the team during multiple deep playoff runs.
He notably elevated his play in the postseason, helping lead the Heat to the NBA Finals in both 2020 and 2023, while averaging over 22 points per game in each of those runs.
Looking back, Memphis may regret not finalizing a deal. Without Butler, the Grizzlies have struggled in recent weeks, dropping seven of their last 10 games and slipping to the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference standings. Still, they remain within striking distance of the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers, trailing by only two games.
Despite the recent skid, Memphis has managed to bounce back with two straight wins and will look to extend their streak to three in a favorable matchup against the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Charlotte currently owns the second-worst record in the East at 19-59.
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