The NBA trade deadline is, strictly speaking, more than six weeks away. However, that distance was shortened for the Miami Heat Wednesday as news broke that forward Jimmy Butler preferred to be traded.
It only it were so easy to move Butler—both for Butler himself and for the Heat, who doubtlessly would seek substantial compensation for their franchise cornerstone of six years. In a follow-up to Charania's report Wednesday co-written with Anthony Chiang, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald outlined two major obstacles to dealing the six-time All-Star.
