How Ex-Celtics Guard Could Finalize Jimmy Butler Blockbuster

It’s unbelievable to imagine that after three suspensions, the Miami Heat still haven’t traded six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and ended their saga.

Butler’s initially rumored request for a trade came in December, sparking unwanted media attention that grew whatever preexisting rift may or may not have existed between Butler and Miami team president Pat Riley. The Heat dropped the hammer multiple times, claiming Butler wouldn’t be traded, then welcoming him back, then suspending him again, all to prolong their inevitable breakup.

The South Beach drama has been the only interesting storyline that’s come from Miami, albeit at the expense of the franchise and its image. Butler and Riley have butt heads for the past few months, all while the Heat themselves cling to a No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, with less than two weeks until the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

So with the clock ticking, Miami still in the running for a playoff spot and Butler claiming the only redeemable quality of South Beach is the beach, the time has come for trade talk. The Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors are the only two teams, according to Evan Sidery of Forbes, capable of facilitating a two-team trade. That means no third-wheelers, no outside help and the possibility that ex-Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart enters the mix and returns to the East to rival his former team.

Smart, a longtime Celtics fan-favorite and 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, got dealt two offseasons ago in the three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston. It’s tricky framework-wise, considering Smart has less than two years of his $76 million contract left while Butler is set to make $48 million with a $52 million player option for next season.

However, one scenario that could work, per ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine, sends Smart, Brandon Clarke and Luke Kennard to Miami straight up for Butler. Memphis would likely request some draft capital to be sprinkled on top to sugarcoat the deal.

Memphis appeared to be a promising landing spot for Smart two years ago. The Grizzlies were young, promising and had booked three straight playoff appearances before Smart’s arrival. They weren’t favorites to come out of the West but with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jarren Jackson Jr. — the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year — Memphis should’ve been in the mix. Instead, the Grizzlies finished with the third-worst record (27-55) in the conference and missed the playoffs.

Smart wasn’t the premier reason behind Memphis’ shortcomings as Morant’s gun-flashing suspension (25 games) was more to blame.

Still, the Smart-Memphis merge hasn’t worked out. Smart was limited to 20 games last season, nursing a finger injury throughout the nightmarish debut campaign with the Grizzlies. This season, Smart suffered a finger injury again that’s limited him to 18 appearances while Memphis holds on strong as the No. 3 seed.

Smart suffered his latest injury against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 21 and hasn’t returned ever since. It’s not an injury that’s expected to keep Smart sidelined for a significant amount of time, so if the 30-year-old does get dragged into a Butler trade, Miami should have Smart fresh and ready for the playoffs.

He’s averaged 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals across 38 games with the Grizzlies, all while shooting 40.9% from the field and 32.1% from three.

Getting Smart back at TD Garden and picking up Jayson Tatum full-court would certainly be epic and make a Boston-Miami round must-watch.

Nevertheless, it’ll be up to Riley to commission Butler’s long-awaited breakup with Miami. The Heat are said to be in the market for a guard.