According to the latest report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Miami Heat have inquired about acquiring Memphis’ young players, a proposal that Memphis ultimately declined.

The Heat’s star has been very vocal about his desire to leave Miami. Initially, he claimed he wanted to join any team but the Heat, only to later rule out the Grizzlies, then the Pelicans, and now even the Warriors have been eliminated from the list of potential landing spots. Despite his reluctance to be traded to Memphis, several reports indicate that the Grizzlies are still interested.

“The Grizzlies, for example, have held exploratory talks with Miami about Butler, but those interactions haven’t gone far,” Amick said. “According to league sources, the Heat asked about Memphis’ young players, which the Grizzlies rebuffed.”

In all likelihood, the Memphis Grizzlies don’t necessarily need Jimmy Butler to remain competitive. Sitting as the second seed in the Western Conference, they already boast a formidable roster. With emerging star Jaren Jackson Jr. recognized as an All-Star and poised to become a future cornerstone in the league, Memphis has plenty of talent to build around.

The Western Conference is proving to be fiercely competitive from top to bottom. Amid the recent flurry of trade activity, teams like the Spurs have bolstered their lineups with key acquisitions such as De’Aaron Fox, while the Mavericks are reportedly looking to further enhance their roster, after adding star player Anthony Davis.

With only a few days remaining until the NBA trade deadline, Miami Heat fans are in for an exciting ride as the Jimmy Butler trade saga continues to unfold.