Jimmy Butler trade hurdles and other NBA trends I’ve noticed

It’s that time of year when NBA teams start thinking about the bigger picture.

Rumors are spreading around the league like we’re back in high school. Jimmy Butler could come here. But he could also go there. But he could also stay in Miami. Slow starts turn into bad seasons. A role player has invented a new way to rebound free throws. Another floater not to be missed.

Let’s open the notebook and go through the four trends that caught my eye in the last week:

Jimmy Butler saga

The Phoenix Suns could covet Butler as much as they want, but it’s not that easy to put together a package for him.

The Miami Heat are “seriously” listening to trade offers for Butler. The athlete‘s David Aldridge reported earlier this week. The applicants are unclear for now. One suspected target in particular is being bandied about in public: Phoenix. But any hope for Butler could die with just one word from Bradley Beal.

Beal is making $50.2 million this season, is under contract for two more years after this season and, most importantly, has one of the NBA’s two no-trade clauses (the other belongs to LeBron James). . Because the Suns are above the second apron of the collective bargaining agreement, are not allowed to send more than one player in a trade at a time, nor are they allowed to take back more money than they give up, their only option to acquire Butler would be through Beal surrender to the heat.

There was a time when Beal dreamed of living in South Florida. When the Washington Wizards explored the market for him in 2023 before ultimately trading him to Phoenix, the Heat were No. 1 on the three-time All-Star’s wish list. Even before Beal and the Wizards finally parted ways, Miami was in the back of their minds. He appreciated the organizational culture as well as the city.

But life evolves.

The Heat exited the Beal sweepstakes and instead saved their assets for a pursuit of Damian Lillard, who ultimately ended up with the Milwaukee Bucks. Today, Beal may not want Miami as much as he did back then.

Earlier this year, he sold his home in Los Angeles, where he lived in the offseason, to move to Phoenix full-time. His family is now based in the area year-round, and Beal wouldn’t embrace a quick trip from his in-laws in LA with the same enthusiasm he would have if he were traveling to Miami now a year and a half ago.

But for the sake of argument, let’s switch to a world where the Heat and Suns agree to a Beal-for-Butler trade (which would mean Miami dumping more money on a third team and could require Phoenix to pick their first-round pick). pick for 2031). That still might not be enough to make a trade.

The Heat are notoriously against issuing no-trade clauses. James wanted one but couldn’t get it. Neither does Butler. Beal’s would take him to Miami, just as Phoenix did when moving from DC

Miami has notoriously tried to stay competitive over the years. If anyone can say that a spot in the play-in means title hopes, it’s this organization. That’s why the company has handed out big contracts to players like James Johnson, Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk, all with the philosophy of not hitting rock bottom. If the contracts get too big, the Heat will come to the rescue. They worked salary cap magic to free themselves from overpayments by finding ways to sign and trade Butler or make room for James and Chris Bosh in 2010. But it’s not so easy to pull a rabbit out of the hat when the rabbit has a no-pull clause.

Butler, who is sneakily having his most efficient season ever, may not be able to make it to Phoenix, although someone could take a shot at the 35-year-old, even if it becomes increasingly difficult to make a $48.8 million salary during the season achieve in today’s NBA.

Go deeper

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Maybe the Denver Nuggets, who are ready to part ways with Michael Porter Jr The Athletics Sam Amick and Tony Jones recently reported that they could build a trade around Porter, Zeke Nnaji and Dario Sarić. Maybe the Chicago Bulls are nostalgic. Maybe after trading for Dennis Schröder, the Golden State Warriors are still buoyant with Andrew Wiggins’ contract and other additions. Maybe there’s a mysterious team out there ready to launch an attack.

Because of the money, Butler’s impending free agency, and the expected payday that comes with it, any trade for Butler quickly becomes complicated. But there is no potential destination riddled with more obstacles than Phoenix.

The shooting of Alex Caruso

The biggest problem for Alex Caruso right now isn’t that he’s missing 72 percent of his 3-point attempts. That’s what all these missed shots are hurting the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offense.

The Thunder traded Josh Giddey for Caruso this summer to create a different look. Giddey was no threat from deep, someone who was at his best with the ball in his hands. But the Thunder were full of creators and shooters. They failed to reach their peak in the playoffs as Giddey defenders slipped and fell into the paint, clogging the lanes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. The Giddey Effect hurt OKC so much that its playing time declined until the end of the 2024 postseason.

Caruso wasn’t just impressed because he could defend the perimeter as intensely as any other guard. He could also hit an open 3, which would open up space for his teammates. Last season in Chicago, he shot 41 percent from deep.

But now the way opponents plan the game for Caruso doesn’t look much different than the way they manned Giddey.

Take a look at how much space the Houston Rockets gave Caruso during their matchup against the Thunder last week:

With additional defenders in the middle, Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t get to the rim. And no one bothered to gratuitously raise their hand near Caruso after receiving the basketball.

The Thunder’s offense is strong, but two of the rotation starters, Caruso and Cason Wallace, are having uncharacteristic shooting seasons. The defense reacts accordingly. It could be difficult to perform with both players in the playoffs if neither improves their play from outside. And if opponents feel comfortable enough to leave Caruso alone, then Oklahoma City is in the same position as it was with Giddey.

Ty Jerome shoots to the basket against Charlotte’s Miles Bridges. (Ken Blaze/Imagn Images)

Ty Jerome’s floater

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting lineup has come together again after a season full of inconsistencies. The Cavs are now 23-4, the best record in the NBA. No one asks anymore whether Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen can play together, whether Darius Garland should move, or whether Donovan Mitchell is truly committed to the organization.

And yet, part of the conversation isn’t loud enough: The Cavs’ bench is an unexpected team of destruction.

Caris LeVert hasn’t missed a 3-pointer since the Browns last won an NFL championship, nor has Isaac Okoro, now the starter, whom defenses in the corners still ignore, except they suffer from strategy this season. Leave Sam Merrill open at your own risk. And then there’s Ty Jerome, a well-traveled role player with two first names and three teams that have let him walk before.

Jerome is hitting 45 percent of his 3-point attempts and has quietly proven to be a helpful defender. When he’s on the court, he accounts for 35 percent of his team’s steals, third in the NBA behind a pair of respected pests, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels and Houston’s Tari Eason. But Jerome’s best quality is his touch.

Watch any Cavs game and you’ll notice a routine.

Jerome brings the basketball up and then starts a pick-and-roll. If his defender goes under the screen, he is at risk of pulling up for the 3. But if he goes over it and Jerome follows from behind, then the defense better watch out because there’s a good chance Jerome will stroll to his favorite spot on the court.

Jerome doesn’t run away from anyone. Instead, he stays slow and low, keeping his defender on his back. His pick-and-roll sections have the feel of a Jamie Moyer MLB All-Star season. When the big man steps back, up goes the float, which doesn’t normally swim in but is so soft that it usually finds its way through the net.

Nearly one in four Jerome shots come from floater range, and 64 percent of them are on target, second best in the NBA among qualified non-bigs.

Everything is going well for the Cavaliers in 27 games. Add Jerome to the list.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earls free throw rebounds

Some players are adept at recovering loose balls. Others can fight for space on the offensive boards. Some can pick up the slack from their teammates after free throws rattle off the rim. Robinson-Earl, the 6-foot-9 forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, has combined all three of these skills into one and can now proudly call himself the owner of the NBA’s most wonderful and energetic niche skill set.

When a Pelican misses a free throw, Robinson-Earl causes a commotion and instead of grabbing the basketball out of the air, he lifts it out of the ground.

Robinson-Earl is already an underrated offensive rebounder, someone who will play on a roster riddled with injuries. So far this season, he has conceded nearly 11 percent of the Pelicans’ missed shots while on the court, a solid number if not close to the league lead.

But after free throws he is unique.

He will push the man trying to box him out forward, hopefully far enough below the rim so he can reach the basketball if his teammate happens to miss the freebie. If he can’t catch it, he pushes it downwards. Then it’s off to the races.

Here’s a look at how he got around Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht and then passed Knecht with the save:

Or how about this case, when Robinson-Earl flies over from the opposite block and then goes headfirst into the camera line as the ball bounces out of bounds?

23 percent of the time a Pelican misses a free throw when Robinson-Earl is on the court, he gets the rebound, which is easily the best in the NBA among qualified players, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The 5-23 Pelicans could use some luck. At least they have Robinson-Earl to give them an extra possession from time to time.

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(Top photo by Jimmy Butler: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)