The Milwaukee Bucks and veteran Caron Butler are expected to reach a buyout agreement by Wednesday. If Butler clears waivers, the Miami Heat will reportedly try to sign him before Saturday's playoff-eligibility deadline.
Unable to find a suitor for Butler before the trade deadline, Milwaukee is expected to buyout the contract of the 33-year-old veteran by Wednesday. The Racine Journal-Times first reported the buyout negotiations between Milwaukee and Butler.
Assuming Butler is released on Wednesday and clears waivers on Friday, he's unlikely to remain a free agent for long.
"The two-time defending champion Miami Heat, sources said, will be at the front of the line to sign Butler, who spent his first two seasons in the league with the Heat and is expected to verbally commit to a team before clearing waivers," ESPN's Marc Stein wrote on Tuesday. "There was a growing sense in NBA front-office circles Tuesday night that Butler is likely to land with Miami..."
The Miami Herald also reported the likelihood of Butler signing with Miami, citing Butler's previous stint with the team and his close friendship with Heat star Dwyane Wade.
Former Indiana Pacer forward Danny Granger is also expected to reach a buyout agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers. While Granger is generating interest among teams, the players in the Heat locker room reportedly aren't in favor of signing him.
"Heat players would clearly prefer Butler; he and Dwyane Wade are close from their days as Heat teammates, and Granger irritated the Heat's stars by getting in their faces after fouls in the 2012 playoffs," Barry Jackson of The Herald wrote on Sunday. "At the time, LeBron James called Granger's conduct 'stupid.'"
Players must be released by Saturday, March 1 to be eligible to play in the postseason with another team.
