For now, however, the Rockets are among the top teams with a young core, and the Mavericks remain a contender in the tightly competitive Western Conference. It’s also worth noting executives who’ve checked in on Butler got the impression that Miami wants to figure out their star’s future after the season,

With the Heat off to a rocky start, there is some chatter about the franchise potentially making Butler available for trade ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline.

Butler is in his 14th season in the NBA out of Marquette. The former 30th overall pick has had stints with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers before landing with the Heat in 2019. This season, Butler is averaging 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The Dallas Mavericks are rolling as of late, winning eight of their last nine games. That one loss was in overtime on the road against the Miami Heat, and Dallas has reportedly been connected to one of their stars in a possible trade.