Through a three-way trade, the Heat could exchange Jimmy Butler for a Lakers player who is out of favor and has a $90 million contract.

The Jimmy Butler era in South Beach feels like it’s coming to an inevitable end.

In a last-minute three-team trade, the Heat could swap Butler for a Los Angeles Lakers outcast before Thursday’s deadline.

“Miami, meanwhile, shakes things up by adding Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, and Saddiq Bey, three versatile, win-now contributors who allow the Heat to reload without tanking because Tyler Herro has just made his first All-Star Team,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Tuesday.

“Kuzma gives Miami a high-volume scoring forward, Valanciunas provides an interior presence, and Bey adds 3-and-D reliability—all things they’ve lacked behind Bam Adebayo and Herro.”

“Plus, they free up long-term cap space while securing a future second-round pick.”

In Bitar’s full trade proposal, the Phoenix Suns would receive Butler, the Heat would receive Kuzma, Valanciunas, Bey, Anthony Gill, and a 2031 second-round pick, and the Washington Wizards would receive Bradley Beal and a 2031 first-round pick.

It’s uncommon for an established superstar to receive three suspensions in the same month, but it proves there’s significant tension between Butler and the Heat.

Butler has guided Miami to two NBA finals appearances since taking his talents to South Beach in 2019, but he’s no longer a happy superstar.

Butler averages 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest, shooting 54% from the field and 36.1% from long-range.

Although Kuzma is a few tiers below Butler and struggling with the Wizards this year, his championship experience as a Laker and scoring acumen could help Miami remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Kuzma averages 15.2 points on 42.0% field goal shooting and 28.1% long-range shooting.

Pat Riley may soon pull the trigger on Bitar’s compelling trade idea.

It sounds like you’re imagining a potential trade scenario involving Jimmy Butler, where the Heat swap him for a player from the Lakers who’s currently out of favor, and the contract in question is around $90 million.

A likely candidate from the Lakers roster, who fits the description of being “out of favor” and has a large contract, could be Russell Westbrook, although he’s no longer with the Lakers as of the 2022-2023 season. If we’re talking about a current roster player with a large contract, someone like Anthony Davis might be a stretch, though he is a star, and would likely not be considered out of favor.

Butler’s value is high, so in a three-way trade, another team could be involved to balance contracts and needs. You’d likely see this kind of move as part of a rebuild for the Lakers or in response to a big shake-up in Miami, especially with the Heat aiming for a championship window.

What’s your take on this possible trade? Or do you have a different player in mind for the Lakers’ side?