Following the Denver Nuggets’ surprising decision to part ways with head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, new insights have emerged about the team’s approach leading up to the NBA trade deadline. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, despite speculation and the potential for big moves, the Nuggets did not attempt to acquire Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler prior to the February deadline.
This is particularly notable given the team’s coaching shakeup and playoff aspirations. While some analysts thought a trade involving Denver forward Michael Porter Jr. might be a logical foundation for a Butler deal, Jackson confirmed that no such pursuit ever materialized.
In contrast, the Memphis Grizzlies—who also made headlines by firing their head coach in a sudden move—did make a legitimate run at Butler before the deadline, per Jackson’s reporting.
“Of the two playoff teams that surprisingly fired their coaches, only Memphis went after Butler. The offer was decent, though it didn’t measure up to Golden State’s,” Jackson posted on X (formerly Twitter). He also clarified that although Denver was viewed as a possible fit, the team never actually approached the Heat about acquiring Butler.
One fan followed up by asking for details on the Grizzlies’ proposed package. Jackson responded that while he couldn’t confirm all the names involved, sources told him the offer was respectable—just not competitive enough to beat what the Warriors had on the table. “I was told it was ‘decent,’ but Warriors’ was better,” he wrote. “I know only some of the names, so not reporting names (because it’s incomplete).”
Ultimately, Butler was dealt to the Golden State Warriors as part of a massive five-team blockbuster trade. Miami received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell, and a protected first-round draft pick in return, while Butler left South Beach after five-and-a-half strong seasons.
During his tenure with the Heat, Butler was widely recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way players. He earned two All-Star selections, led the NBA in steals during the 2020-21 season, and was a playoff force. His elite postseason performances were instrumental in leading Miami to two NBA Finals appearances—in 2020 and again in 2023. In both of those playoff runs, Butler averaged over 22 points per game and was the heart of Miami’s success.
Looking back, Memphis might be regretting not going all in. Without Butler, the Grizzlies’ momentum has slowed significantly. The team has lost seven of its last ten games, and while they currently sit in the 8th seed in the Western Conference, they are only two games behind the third-place Los Angeles Lakers—a sign that a player like Butler could’ve made a serious impact.
To their credit, Memphis is showing signs of life. They’ve won their last two games and will look to build on that when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. The Hornets, with a dismal 19-59 record, are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings—making the matchup a favorable one for Memphis to gain some ground.
Leave a Reply