Why Heat star Jimmy Butler is in NBA trade rumors, which teams are interested and where he could land

Butler's time in Miami may be coming to a close

Jimmy Butler saved the Miami Heat. It's easy to forget that now. The Heat are a model organization, after all, and their failures are far rarer than their successes. But Miami had won only one playoff series in the five years since LeBron James left. Their balance sheet was bogged down with pricey contracts given to Hassan Whiteside, Kelly Olynyk, Dion Waiters, James Johnson and Tyler Johnson after the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. They were capped out with a lottery roster. There was no immediate hope of contending.

Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, Butler was playing a seemingly forgettable 2016-17 season with Dwyane Wade for the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls may not have gone anywhere, but while they played together, Wade sold Butler on the benefits of Heat culture. When he became a free agent two offseasons later, he chose the Heat. It didn't matter that the rest of the roster was in a state of flux. Butler fits within Miami's culture like a glove. The results speak for themselves. The Heat have been to the Finals twice with Butler.

And now, he's become perhaps the most common superstar in trade rumors this offseason. It's a stark change of pace not only because of his success in Miami, but because of the team's overall approach to roster-building. The Heat acquire stars. They don't give them away. Only a year ago, it looked as though Butler would be teaming up with Damian Lillard in Miami. Now his time with the Heat might be coming to a close.