Back on clock for a Butler deal?
MIAMI — The Miami Heat could find themselves back on the clock — if they still want to be on the clock — when it comes to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ efforts to trade Jimmy Butler.
With ESPN reporting an offer of four first-round picks from the Houston Rockets for the disgruntled guard, there still would be the need for enough matching salary from Houston to facilitate such a transaction.
The window for such a move therefore could open Wednesday, when the Rockets become eligible to package the contract of sidelined guard Brandon Knight in a trade. Knight, the former Pine Crest standout, was dealt by the Phoenix Suns to the Rockets on Aug. 31, with teams forced to wait two months before then repackaging a player in a trade.
The Heat are not in position to match the Rockets’ offer of first-round picks in 2019, ‘21, ‘23 and ‘25 because their 2021 pick now belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers. That pick initially was sent to the Suns at the 2015 NBA trading deadline as part of a package for guard Goran Dragic.
Under NBA rules, teams cannot trade successive future first-round picks, putting the Heat’s 2020 and ‘22 first-round picks off limits, other than the Heat being able to include them for the right to swap first-round draft position.
Heat President Pat Riley twice has acknowledged previous discussions with the Timberwolves, first
Blazers at Heat
When/Where: Tickets: TV: Scouting report: This is the third game of a fourgame homestand that ends Monday against the Kings . . . This is the first game of the two-game season series that concludes Feb. 5 in Portland at the start of a five-game trip . . . The Heat went 0-2 against the Blazers last season and have been swept each of the past two seasons, entering on a five-game losing streak against Portland . . . The Heat had won four in a row from the Blazers at AmericanAirlines Arena before losing the past two . . . This is the first of the Heat’s 30 games against the Western Conference . . . This is the second game of a four-game trip for the Blazers, who again are driven by the backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum . . . The Heat are coming off Wednesday’s 110-87 victory over the Knicks . . . The Blazers are coming off Thursday’s 128-114 victory in Orlando, when Lillard scored 41 points . . . Dion Waiters (ankle) and James Johnson (hernia) are out for the Heat, with Wayne Ellington (ankle), Justise Winslow (hamstring) and Derrick Jones Jr. (foot) probable. when he refuted an ESPN Radio report about cursing at Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau during negotiations and later to announce last week, through a team spokesman, that the Heat were “pulling the plug” on the negotiations.
The Heat’s most recent offer to the Timberwolves widely has been reported as Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and a protected version of their 2019 firstround draft pick.
While future first-round Heat picks likely would be more valuable to the Timberwolves than selections from a Rockets team that then would be going forward with James Harden, Chris Paul and Butler, the risk for a team acquiring Butler while taking the long view toward contention is that Butler can become a free agent next summer.
Several Heat players have acknowledged the early discussions with the Timberwolves was a distraction, but there has been little talk among players since Riley’s statement last week prior to the team’s victory over the Washington Wizards.
Getting close: Derrick Jones Jr. (foot), Justise Winslow (hamstring) and Wayne Ellington (ankle) all took part in Friday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena and are listed as probable for Saturday’s game against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
Winslow had been expected to make his season debut Wednesday against the New York Knicks, but had a setback shortly before what turned into a blowout victory.
“I felt pretty good today in practice,” he said. “Not 100 percent, but no one really is ever 100 percent in this league. It’s getting better. It’s definitely been frustrating, but I’m just going to keep being positive about it.”
As is Ellington, who has yet to play in either the preseason or regular season.
“I hope this isn’t a tease,” he said. “I feel good. I just went through a full practice. So hopefully I’ll get the go ahead. It seems like that’s the case.”
Jones had started the first three games before hurting his foot in Saturday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
“It was just a little discomfort,” Jones said, “but it’s a lot better now.”
Johnson, too: James Johnson went through Friday’s practice, still with no timetable on his return from May hernia surgery.
“He just has to get strong, get in better condition. He’s on track,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “These things take time. But I like the direction he’s going in.”
Johnson is optimistic of a sooner-rather-than-later return.
“The treatments we have and everything else is going well,” he said. “So I’m in the right direction. It’s just persistence and patience after that.”