NBA Notebook: Trade season begins on Sunday after Jimmy Butler report

Most of the NBA's players (87%) become eligible for trades on Sunday in the first full season of the new collective bargaining agreement rules that'll inevitably lead to one of the quieter stretches between now and the Feb. 6 deadline that we've seen. Teams always find creative ways to move money though, and with Jimmy Butler potentially available it's worth circling back on the restrictions and rules that'll determine who can and can't make moves in the coming months. 

The Celtics, as a team over the second apron, face the most restrictive limitations to their activity. Boston can't trade multiple players to match the money of one coming back, can't take back even $1 more than they send out in a deal and can't sign players released through buyouts following the deadline. While they don't need much, the Celtics waived Lonnie Walker IV following training camp to keep their 15th roster spot open and reportedly explored trading Jaden Springer (1yr, $4M) to allow for additional flexibility. Their inability to move even money that insignificant showed the difficulty of navigating this new cap environment for the most restricted teams. 

The Suns, Timberwolves and Bucks also surpassed the second apron line, holding them to the same restrictions at Boston, while the Lakers effectively need to follow those rules with only $30,000 in room below that apron line. The Knicks, Nuggets, Pacers and Hornets hard capped themselves at the second apron due to making moves that aren't allowed above that apron line, including New York's trade of multiple players for Mikal Bridges over the summer. That means none of them can pass that $188.9 million team salary line. 

Many more teams are already hard-capped at the first apron ($178.1M) due to utilizing the full mid-level exception or acquiring a player in a sign-and-trade. On the other end of the spectrum, the Pistons are the only team with cap space ($10.2M) available that they can utilize to absorb more money into their end of any trade, or take on a player in any multi-team deals. 

Let's look at the teams mentioned as Butler suitors to see what hurdles they could face in getting a deal done. Butler makes $48.8 million this year and the Heat only sit $3.3 million below the second apron line, giving them some but limited flexibility to take back multiple players or additional salary above what he makes in a trade. This week, they opened a second roster spot by agreeing to trade Thomas Bryant to the Pacers. Bryant, like many other players, becomes trade-eligible on Sunday after signing a contract last summer. 

• The Houston Rockets have the most straightforward path to acquiring Butler with Fred VanVleet making $42.8 million, which nearly matches Butler's money entirely. Miami would save $6 million, so they could take back additional players from Houston and stay below the second apron line relatively comfortably. The Rockets are hard-capped at the first apron, but have $15.2 million in room beneath it. This would be the easiest trade from a cap perspective, and Houston has three future Brooklyn Nets picks from the Suns/Mavericks to entice the Heat to take back VanVleet, who has a $44.9 million team option next season. 
• The Golden State Warriors, who have expressed interest in pairing Steph Curry with another star, face a more complicated but feasible path to acquiring Butler. Jonathan Kuminga ($7.6M) and the Warriors failed to reach a rookie extension before the season, setting him up for restricted free agency that would be appealing to the Heat if they like him as a player. Golden State interestingly started Kuminga over Draymond Green in a game recently. The Warriors would need to aggregate salaries though, likely Andrew Wiggins ($26.2M), De'Anthony Melton ($12.8M) and a small contract like Gui Santos' ($1.8M) to keep Golden State beneath its first apron hard cap. They would also need to time the trade to allow themselves to fill their open roster spots in as cheap of a manner as possible, while the Heat would need one more roster spot to take on Santos unless he's directed to a third team in the deal. There are some hurdles here, but given Melton's season-ending injury and questions over Kuminga's future, it's possible. 
• The Phoenix Suns, sitting over the second apron, can only trade one player for Butler, one of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal. While all three make more money than Butler, and would allow the Heat to sustain winning, it's hard to imagine Phoenix dealing Durant or Booker. Trading Beal makes some sense for both sides, though he has a no-trade clause. He's also signed for $53.7 million next year and has a $57.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season at age 33. They only have their 2031 first-rounder available to trade. 
• The Dallas Mavericks have nearly the same restrictions as the Warriors, hard-capped at the first apron with roughly $500,000 in room beneath it. Without trading Klay Thompson, which doesn't seem likely after signing him in July, Dallas would need to trade PJ Washington ($15.5M), Daniel Gafford ($13.3M), Maxi Kleber ($11M) and Naji Marshall ($8.5M). That haul would intrigue the Heat, who would need to find a new home for either Kleber or Marshall, but the Mavs adding Washington and Gafford keyed their surge to the Finals late last year. Selling out to have four stars and no depth doesn't make sense. 

Other players worth watching ahead of the trade deadline include Hawks center Clint Capela, whose $22 million contract expires after this season, Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell's $18.6 million expiring and Brandon Ingram, who failed to agree to an extension over the summer with a flailing Pelicans team that'll inevitably want to finish the year below the luxury tax line. Ingram makes $36 million. Trades for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević in Chicago appear as unlikely as they were one year ago. 

While most players can be traded after Sunday, some can't due to the date they signed extensions or new contracts. Others who signed rookie scale extensions have poison pill provisions (Jalen Green/Aleperen Şengün) that make them effectively ineligible to be traded. Sam Hauser, for example, can't move until Jan. 21 due to the timing of his extension. Luke Kornet has a de-facto no trade clause since he signed a one-year deal and would lose his Bird rights elsewhere if moved. Patrick Williams (CHI), Isaac Okoro (CLE), TJ McConnell (IND), Andrew Nembhard (IND), OG Anunoby (NYK), Jonathan Isaac (ORL), Wendell Carter Jr. (ORL), Joel Embiid (PHI), Tyrese Maxey (PHI), Aaron Gordon (DEN), Rudy Gobert (MIN), Isaiah Joe (OKC), Aaron Wiggins (OKC) and Lauri Markkanen (UTA) can't move until mid-January or later after signing contracts or extensions later in the summer. LeBron James is among the players who can be traded on Sunday, but he has a no-trade clause. 

For teams who aren't threatened by the second apron, there's some additional trade flexibility, but not much. There are 18 teams not impacted by the first and second aprons can bring back 200% in salary plus $250K while sending out $0-$7.5M, the matching salary plus $7.5 million when trading $7.5M-$30M and 125% plus $250K when sending out more than $30 million. That actually creates additional flexibility for some of the middle-tier spenders including the Hawks, Rockets, Nets, Cavs, Thunder, Pacers and others who could be most active this deadline. Players like Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, who had his rookie team option declined this season, can be traded but that team that receives him can only re-sign him for one year, $4 million at most. For Boston, Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Kornet become trade-eligible on Sunday after signing new offseason deals. 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta (14-12): Shocked the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, Trae Young following up his 2021 spat with New York fans by leading the Hawks back from down 10 points in the third quarter to win, 108-100. They'll travel to Vegas to face the Bucks in the Cup semifinals having won seven of their last eight games. With De'Andre Hunter back, who scored 24 points in 29 minutes at New York, Atlanta looks like a completely different team than the one Boston beat by 30 on the road earlier this season. Young rolled the dice on New York's logo after the win. 

Boston (20-5): The Celtics rolled over the Pistons in their only game this week, though Jayson Tatum missed his second game in two weeks with on-and-off knee pain while Sam Hauser sat out with the adductor strain he suffered against the Grizzlies on Saturday. Both could return against the Wizards on Sunday, the only game for the team over another light week ahead before the schedule picks up again. Kristaps Porzingis, who became an offensive hub on Thursday, scored 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting with eight rebounds and two blocks. That morning, he said his conditioning is the final aspect in him reaching 100% returning from his offseason leg surgery. The ankle tweak he suffered on Saturday, which knocked him out of the loss against the Grizzlies before he returned for the second half, didn't concern the team's medical staff despite it happening to the same ankle. Payton Pritchard's banner season continued with 29 points and 10 assists against Detroit. He's scored at least 19 points in seven of his last eight games. 

Brooklyn (10-15): The Nets have reportedly been willing to listen to offers on any of their players as their focus remains rebuilding despite a relatively strong start compared to expectations. The Warriors could be in play for Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cameron Johnson, as Golden State's urgency to supplement the talent around Steph Curry appears to increase months from the trade deadline. Any deal would inevitably include Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors' most enticing player they would be willing to trade. Injured guard De'Anthony Melton's $12.8-million deal could also match contracts in a trade, lining up almost exactly with Schröder's $13 million. 

An oddsmaker listed the Celtics as favorites to become Ben Simmons' next team, if he doesn't stay with Brooklyn, which would be nearly impossible on his current contract, but he becomes an unrestricted free agent and potential bargain contract after this year. He's averaging 8.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 9.7 APG per 36 minutes in only 23 minutes each night in 18 appearances, which surpassed his 15 from last year. 

Chicago (11-15): Play a home-and-home with the Celtics next Thursday and Saturday. Patrick Williams (foot) returned from injury with four points while Josh Giddey added 17 through a foot injury on Friday, beating the Hornets. Nikola Vučević, quietly having an all-star season, missed the win with an illness after posting 21.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 3.2 APG to begin the season on 58.7% shooting. He scored 32 points in 34 minutes in the last meeting between Boston and Chicago. 

Cleveland (22-4): Max Strus (ankle) neared a return on Friday from an ankle injury he suffered in the preseason that's left him on the sideline for the entire Cavs season so far. With Isaac Okoro and others stepping up in his place, Cleveland found enough wing productivity to this point alongside their two bigs to maintain an advantage atop the east. They'll still reportedly search for wing depth through the trade deadline as they prepare to contend with the Celtics for the east. Strus shot 41.8% from the field and 35.1% from three in his first Cavs season, nearly matching his final Heat season exactly. 

“It gives you such a comfort level to have that guy you can stick on somebody, whether it’s Trae Young, so whether it’s a point guard or we can say, ‘Hey, go guard Jayson Tatum tonight,’” Kenny Atkinson said earlier this season. “Isaac can guard fours, he can also switch onto fives because he’s so strong. … He’s kind of a little bit been not talked about, but he’s been great, using him in the pocket too, in the pick and roll.”

Dallas (16-9): Lost to the Thunder in a rough offensive night for Luka Dončić, who shot 5-of-15 with 16 points against Oklahoma City's league best as the Mavs exited the NBA Cup in the first round. Klay Thompson will play at Golden State for the second time on Sunday before the Mavs begin a mini-series at home against the Clippers. Dallas had won 8-of-9 prior to Tuesday. Naji Marshall, PJ Washington and Jaden Hardy fell ill leading up to the game, with the latter two sitting and forcing Quentin Grimes to start. Dirk Nowitzki is nearing a deal to join Amazon's forthcoming coverage of the NBA for the 2025-26 season. 

Denver (13-10): Nikola Jokić's MVP start continued on Sunday with 48 points in a blowout win over the Hawks in Atlanta. He's averaging 39.4 PPG, 14.8 RPG and 8.8 APG in four December games, shooting 54.9% from the field and 42.3% from three. Jamal Murray sat out the team's two games last weekend with hamstring inflammation while Christian Braun manages a quad contusion. Denver has split their last 10 games. Aaron Gordon rested on Saturday before shooting 1-of-6 in his fourth game back from a calf injury. The Nuggets beat the Clippers on Friday led by Murray's 20 points. 

Detroit (10-16): Cade Cunningham scored 18 points with eight rebounds and eight assists on 9-of-22 in the Pistons' blowout loss at Boston after they boasted a far more competitive effort with Cunningham 27 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists in their loss one week earlier. A candidate to become an all star for the first time, Cunningham is averaging 23.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 9.3 APG on 45.3% shooting to begin his fourth season. Jaden Ivey and Malik Beasley also struggled on Thursday, while Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed combined for only six points filling in for Jalen Duren (wrist). Detroit stunned the Knicks in New York last Saturday, scoring their signature win under JB Bickerstaff. 

"I was really proud of the guys," he said. "Because of the time they put in, their commitment to it, how they just want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and when you do sacrifice like that, at some point in time, you do want to see a bigger result ... (it) showed steps ... that's what this season is about for us, it's making sure game-to-game, week-to-week, we keep taking steps and I think our guys have done a great job of that so far." 

Golden State (14-10)/Houston (17-8): Steve Kerr slammed a last-second loose ball foul on Jonathan Kuminga as he and Jalen Green slid for the ball, allowing Green to convert game-winning free throws at the line. Bill Kennedy later defended the call in a pool reporter, saying Kuminga made contact with Green's shoulder area. The last two-minute report also confirmed the call. The win advanced the Rockets to the NBA Cup semifinals, another accomplishment for Ime Udoka into his second season that coincided with Houston's first win over Golden State since Feb. 20, 2020, ending a 15-game losing streak. Both teams fought for the final postseason spot in the west late last year, and according to reports, they could compete for Jimmy Butler if the Heat decide to trade their veteran star. Butler reportedly listed the Warriors and Rockets alongside the Mavericks and Suns as his preferred destinations if traded. Houston could get the trade done cap-wise with Fred VanVleet while a Golden State package would likely include Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins. 

"I've never seen a loose ball foul on a jump ball situation, 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line,"  Kerr said post-game. "I've never seen that. I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is, I mean, unconscionable. I don't even understand what just happened." 

Indiana (11-15): Tyrese Haliburton exploded out of his shooting struggles to begin the year with a 7-for-15 three-point night in a win over the Sixers on Friday. He fell to 31.6% to begin December, with a 33.6% mark for the season entering the game. Haliburton shot 36.4% last year and 40% in his first full Indiana season, both earning him all-star berths that look unlikely barring a winter turnaround. The Pacers continued their attempt to address the center position by agreeing to acquire Thomas Bryant from Miami when he becomes trade-eligible this weekend. Starting center Myles Turner, who becomes a free agent this summer, will not become available before the trade deadline, according to The Athletic. 

Clippers (14-11): Kawhi Leonard practiced on Tuesday for the first time this season and could return to game action at some point over the next two weeks, according to ESPN. Leonard did offensive script, defensive work and remained no-contact, Ty Lue said. There had been growing anticipation to begin this month, namely from Bill Simmons, that Leonard ramped-up successfully to return in time for Christmas after knee swelling derailed his postseason, Summer Olympics stint and the start of 2024-25. The Clippers have stayed afloat thanks in large part to Norman Powell, who Brian Windhorst interviewed and alerted that his trade from Toronto to LA was a major factor in the formation of the new prohibitive CBA restrictions for expensive teams like the Clippers. 

Lakers (13-11): Lost their eighth game over their last 11 with LeBron James away from the team for personal reasons. JJ Redick said before Friday's game that it's unclear when James will return. He initially missed last Sunday's game against Portland due to a sore foot and did not travel to Minnesota. The Lakers return to LA to play the Grizzlies on Sunday. Over their last 10 games, they rank 26th in offense and 25th in defense. A scout who reviewed their recent blowout loss to the Heat torched LA's long-struggling defense. Bronny James, playing for G-League South Bay, scored 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting in a 106-100 loss to the Suns' affiliate. He's averaging 14 PPG in four G-League games.

"They weren't even trying," he said. "The Lakers play with zero physicality ... it's easy to get transition baskets. It's easy to score via pick-and-rolls. It's easy to post up and cut for easy baskets. Everything is just easy."

Miami (13-10): Shams Charania reported that the Heat will listen to offers for superstar wing Jimmy Butler, who led the team to the 2020 and 2023 Finals with east finals upsets over the Celtics and stunned top-seeded Milwaukee as the eighth seed to begin the latter run. Since then, he's dealt with a string of injuries that sidelined him for the entirety of their first-round series against the Celtics last year and led to criticism of his availability by team president Pat Riley over the summer. Butler, who has a $52.4 million player option for next season, and Miami failed to agree on a two-year extension that Butler sought in the offseason. Butler's agent Bernie Lee denied Charania's reporting of preferred Butler destinations that included the Suns, Mavericks, Rockets and Warriors. Charania later affirmed his reporting as accurate while Butler appreciated his agent's defense. 

Milwaukee (13-11)/Orlando (17-10): Giannis Antetokounmpo maintained his lead for the league scoring title and pushed the Bucks into the NBA Cup semifinals with 37 points and four blocks in a rock fight with the injured Magic. Jalen Suggs missed a potential game-winning three after Damian Lillard hit consecutive shots with under one minute remaining that tied the game then gave the Bucks a lead. Milwaukee also got 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench from Bobby Portis as their run of improved play continued into December. The Bucks rank third in offense and 15th in defense over their last 10 games. They play the Hawks in a 2021 East Finals rematch on Saturday at 4:30 EST. 

New Orleans (5-21): Dyson Daniels told Jake Fischer that his former Pelicans team was cursed, citing multiple ankle injuries he suffered to begin his career and the onslaught of ailments that have derailed their season to begin this season. Zion Williamson (hamstring), Brandon Ingram (ankle), Jose Alvarado (hamstring), Jordan Hawkins (back) and others remain out since CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray have returned from significant absences. The Pelicans have still lost 9-of-10 and three in a row. 

New York (15-10): Shut down by the Hawks late after squandering a 10-point lead in the third quarter of the NBA Cup's first round at home. The loss followed Shams Charania's report that Mitchell Robinson (ankle) isn't close to returning, and will likely remain out until late January or early February. The Knicks hoped to unite Karl-Anthony Towns' offense with Robinson's interior defense to regain their balance after a stellar offensive start (2nd) to the year and regression on defense (16th). OG Anunoby has become the team's free safety on defense since his arrival from Toronto. The Knicks and Raptors filed a joint letter alleging that the NBA has failed to arbitrate New York's lawsuit accusing Toronto of stealing proprietary information after a court called for the league to settle the dispute six months ago. 

Oklahoma City (19-5): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in Basketball Reference's MVP predictor, averaging 30.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 6.3 APG for a Thunder team that looks on a collision course with the Celtics in the Finals. First, they're on the verge of a NBA Cup title if they can win two more games in the tournament after their win over the Mavs this week, the team that eliminated them in the second round last year. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered the win with 39 points, eight rebounds and five assists. They play the Rockets at 8:30 EST in Vegas on Saturday, and are now ranked eighth in offense and first in defense. Chet Holmgren, recovering from his hip fracture last month, attended his first game since. 

Orlando (17-10): Will try to maintain their third-place status in the east with the Knicks trailing closely behind them after the Bucks eliminated them from the NBA Cup despite their competitive effort throughout. Paolo Banchero (oblique) hasn't returned to practice yet since Franz Wagner joined him on the bench last week with the same injury. Banchero returned to the floor for some light activity to begin the month and has focused on introducing cardio since without putting too much pressure on the injury, Jamahl Mosley said this week. Jonathan Isaac and Gary Harris have also missed multiple games with hamstring injuries, both doing some work on the floor and improving to day-to-day status. The Magic will likely host Boston on Dec. 23 with both stars out for their first meeting of the season. First, Orlando hosts New York, Oklahoma City and Miami to begin a seven-game home stand. 

Philadelphia (7-16): Suffered another nightmarish loss to the Pacers on Friday in what's already become a disastrous season, Joel Embiid fracturing his sinus while battling with Bennedict Mathurin for a rebound midway through the game. He left the game and did not return, and will receive additional evaluation over the weekend. It looked like the Sixers lost rookie sensation Jared McCain, who drove, leaped and flopped on his back and head before stumbling to his feet and exiting the game. He later returned. Kyle Lowry (back) and Caleb Martin (shoulder) remained out on Friday. Philadelphia will stay active in the trade market prior to the deadline despite their poor start, according to ESPN. 

Phoenix (12-11): Their interest in Jimmy Butler, if they have any, wouldn't make much sense considering their three stars all needing ball time and one likely needing to move in a deal to make the money work. Regardless of how you or they feel about Bradley Beal's Suns tenure so far, he has a no-trade clause stemming from his extension with the Wizards. Devin Booker and Kevin Durant aren't going anywhere. It's not clear how Butler would even help this roster as it is currently constructed. It's not happening. 

Suns owner Mat Ishbia is reportedly interested in purchasing the Minnesota Twins after the Pohlad family announced it is exploring a sale of the MLB franchise. Durant returned from a three-game absence on Friday against the Jazz after Phoenix fell to 1-9 without him this season. 

Portland (8-16): Robert Williams III missed Friday's game as he nears a return from concussion protocol. He's only appeared in seven out of Portland's 25 games this year. Multiple teams have expressed interest in Williams III, Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons as the Trail Blazers assess their future path. Williams III is signed for $12.4 million this season and $13.3 million in 2025-26. 

Toronto (7-19): Scottie Barnes will miss multiple weeks with a right ankle sprain as a difficult injury season continues for him after averaging 20.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 7.4 APG across his first 14 appearances. The Raptors have lost four straight and seven of their last 10 to fall only one loss ahead of the last-place Wizards in the loss column at the bottom of the east. Barnes suffered the injury landing on Karl-Anthony Towns' in Monday's loss to the Knicks. He'll be evaluated in one week. Bruce Brown (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow) also remain out, while Kelly Olynyk returned from his back injury this month to score 19 points across his first three games in limited minutes (6-17 FG). 

Washington (3-20): Jonas Valančiūnas, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyle Kuzma could unsurprisingly be on the move from this quickly sinking ship before long with their focus clearly set on their younger players. Though a conflicting report by The Athletic expressed the organization's desire to hold onto the veterans for some amount of time to keep them close to their rookies as positive influences. The Lakers have been connected to Valančiūnas since he signed a three-year deal with the Wizards this summer. Brogdon is playing on an expiring contract. Kuzma re-signed for four years in 2023. Washington hosts the Celtics for the third time in three months as part of NBA Cup rescheduling on Sunday at 6 EST.