The entire basketball world fell into a state of shock when the news broke that the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. It was almost as if time stood still when this trade was announced.
Now, a little over a month removed from the trade news, we learn that the Mavericks had made a failed attempt to sign Jimmy Butler III, who ultimately joined the Golden State Warriors.
Mavericks Were Reportedly Interested in Jimmy Butler III Before Shocking Luka Dončić Trade
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Mavericks were reportedly interested in acquiring Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Kuzma before the trade deadline.
“Before the Dallas Mavericks traded Dončić in a blockbuster deal to acquire Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick, the team also expressed interest in Butler and Kyle Kuzma, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto reported.
While Dallas was one of Butler’s preferred destinations, the talks eventually fell through as the Miami Heat struck a deal with the Warriors with the help of the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons.
“PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford briefly came up in trade talks for Butler, but exploratory discussions didn’t go far, league sources told HoopsHype. At the time, Miami sought starting-caliber players on short-term deals who could help the Heat compete this season while giving them financial flexibility for the future as part of a trade package for the disgruntled Butler.”
The Mavericks showed trade interest in Jimmy Butler before trading Luka Dončić, per @MikeAScotto
“Before the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal to acquire Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick, the team also expressed interest in… pic.twitter.com/DeHaXKtUho
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 3, 2025
Butler was disgruntled with the Heat after being denied a contract extension last summer. This resulted in a public fallout with the franchise early this year when he was suspended for seven games on Jan. 3 for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
The six-time NBA All-Star’s age made it difficult for the Heat to commit to him for more seasons, and they eventually got rid of him. Golden State took him as their consolation prize after the Kevin Durant trade talks fell through.
In return for Butler, the Heat received Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Tucker, Kyle Anderson, and a 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick, giving them a retooling package potent enough to still contend for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the NBA world is still recovering from the shock of the blockbuster trade that sent Dončić to the Lakers and Davis to Dallas. The deal, which was initially assumed to be a prank, has been endlessly criticized, with Mavs general manager Nico Harrison even having reportedly received death threats.
To further put salt on the Mavs fans’ wounds, the Lakers have gone 12-2 since the Dončić trade, while Davis is yet to play an hour for Dallas and has been out with a groin injury since Feb. 8.
