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Report: Jimmy Butler will tell Heat he wants to play in Miami

Philadelphia 76ers v Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 27: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks with a teammate during their game against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 27, 2018 in Salt Lake City , Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

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What Jimmy Butler wants and what Jimmy Butler has to accept may be two different things.

Or, is Jimmy Butler using Miami to get what he really wants — a full five-year max from Philadelphia?

While Butler is coveted by teams everywhere from Los Angeles to New York — literally — his heart is apparently in Miami, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

In terms of fit and culture, Butler would be perfect in Miami. Whether that actually comes to pass is something else entirely.

The buzz around the league for a while has been that what Butler really wants is a fully guaranteed, five-year, $191 million offer from Philadelphia and that all the other rumors — Miami, a sign-and-trade with Houston, joining Kevin Durant on the Clippers, etc. — are all really about pressuring Philly to give up that money. The Sixers, reportedly and understandably, are hesitant to give a full five years to Butler, who is about to turn 30 and has an injury history.

That said, Philly wants to retain Butler and would only relent to a sign-and-trade if Butler both demanded it and threatened to leave to a third team with cap space if the Sixers did not make the trade. The Lakers and Nets have cap space and interest in Butler, and the Lakers are reportedly being very aggressive now (what that says about their pursuit of Kawhi Leonard is interesting).

With Miami, it will likely take a third team to get a deal done. No way the Sixers agree to take on the salaries of Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside, or Ryan Anderson. Some combination of Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo, and Josh Richardson would work for Philly, but not Miami.

Butler remains one of the real wild cards in free agency, even if what he wants is to be in Miami.