The Jimmy Butler trade just got bigger, with the Miami Heat adding guard Davion Mitchell and successfully moving under the first luxury tax apron.
The Jimmy Butler trade just keeps growing. After the Heat agreed to send the disgruntled star to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, the blockbuster deal expanded further ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline.
On Wednesday, the Heat received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick from the Warriors, along with P.J. Tucker from the Utah Jazz. By Thursday morning, the Heat flipped Tucker, a second-round pick, and cash to the Toronto Raptors for fourth-year guard Davion Mitchell, according to league sources.
Here’s how the five-team trade currently breaks down just hours before the deadline:
- Warriors: Acquired Jimmy Butler from the Heat.
- Heat: Received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick from the Warriors, and added Davion Mitchell from the Raptors.
- Raptors: Landed P.J. Tucker from the Jazz, plus cash and a second-round pick from the Heat.
- Pistons: Picked up Lindy Waters from the Warriors and Josh Richardson from the Heat.
- Jazz: Acquired Dennis Schroder from the Warriors.
Mitchell, 26, averaged 6.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in 44 appearances (22 starts) with the Raptors this season. He’s shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc on 2.7 three-point attempts per game. Known for his intense perimeter defense, Mitchell brings toughness and energy to Miami’s point-of-attack defense.
Standing at 6 feet and 202 pounds, Mitchell may be undersized for his position, but he has a reputation for locking down opponents. “I feel like I’m the best defender in the league,” Mitchell once said. “On or off the ball, that’s just who I am.” Heat two-way guard Isaiah Stevens even cited Mitchell as his biggest influence on defense, calling him a game-changer for smaller guards.
Originally drafted by the Kings with the ninth overall pick in 2021, Mitchell is making $6.5 million this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
By pulling off this expanded trade, the Heat now sits just under the first luxury tax apron, giving them much-needed financial flexibility. They’re about $2 million below the first apron and just $2.7 million over the luxury tax line. This move not only reduces Miami’s tax bill but also positions them to add more players if needed.
If the Heat takes back more salary in a future trade or signs a player from the buyout market, they will be hard-capped at the $178.1 million first apron. For now, though, the team’s roster is at the maximum 15 players: Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Alec Burks, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Keshad Johnson, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, Kevin Love, Davion Mitchell, Duncan Robinson, Dru Smith, Kel’el Ware, and Wiggins.
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