Bucks, Suns rank in top-3 Jimmy Butler landing spots as surprise suitor steals No. 1 spot

Matt John

Bucks, Suns rank in top-3 Jimmy Butler landing spots as surprise suitor steals No. 1 spot image

The Jimmy Butler situation only continues to spiral. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Miami Heat have suspended Butler again after he walked out of practice Monday.

This will only add more fuel to the fire that teams like the Milwaukee Bucks or Phoenix Suns will try to pry Butler from the Heat while their championship window is open. Before Butler’s suspension, NBA Champion and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins listed both teams among the top five destinations for Butler on NBA Today.

The Suns came in at No. 3 while the Bucks came in at No. 2. Right behind them were the Dallas Mavericks (No. 5) and the Golden State Warriors  (No. 4). At No. 1 was the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies would make sense for Butler, as Memphis is one of the best teams in the Western Conference as the No. 3 seed at 31-15, and Butler would strengthen their playoff chances.

However, on Jan. 23, reporter Marc J. Spears shared on “NBA Today” that Butler is willing to go anywhere except Memphis. He didn’t elaborate much on why, but going to the Grizzlies is the only compromise Butler isn’t willing to make.

Why the Bucks might push for a trade for Butler

The Bucks are still in the top four in the Eastern Conference, but the season hasn’t gone as they wanted it to.

Milwaukee will have their hands full once the NBA playoffs start. Before the postseason, though, the Bucks will do everything possible to build a title-caliber team around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This is especially true because teams are watching Antetokounmpo’s availability if the Bucks come up short again. Trading for Butler may solve that problem if acquiring him leads to Milwaukee, at the very least, going on another extended playoff run.

Even if Milwaukee doesn’t get Butler, they can take solace in knowing he wouldn’t refuse to play for them.

MORE BUCKS NEWS: NBA Insider details why trading away Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis could land Jimmy Butler with the Bucks

Matt John

Matt John is a Utah resident, but a Massachusetts native. He's been covering the NBA since 2016, where his work has been featured in publications such as Basketball Insiders, Basketball News, Heavy, FanSided, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News. When he's not watching ball, he's watching movies, television or true crime.