The culture established by team president Pat Riley was a deciding factor in Jimmy Butler agreeing to join the Heat, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
“The winning habits, the winning ways. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?” he said. “I was excited to have an opportunity to come here, to be here, but when I keep hearing about this culture I was like, ‘I need that in my life.’”
Butler, who received a four-year deal worth approximately $141MM as part of a sign-and-trade with the Sixers, has shown that work ethic during early-morning workouts and in pickup games. Riley describes his biggest summer acquisition as a top-10 player in the NBA
“The one thing that I feel that I owe the franchise and this city is to put the most competitive team on the court that we can and one that will compete for championships,” Riley said. “I think having Jimmy Butler here is a step in that direction.”
We have more on the Heat:
- Big man Kelly Olynyk won’t be available for the start of training camp but he’s expected to be ready for the opener, Reynolds reports in the same story. He suffered a bone bruise in his right knee while playing for Team Canada prior to the FIBA World Cup. Every other player on the training camp roster is expected to be available at the start of camp.
- Riley wasn’t thrilled that Justise Winslow said publicly he wanted to be the starting point guard, Reynolds tweets. Winslow commented that he wanted to be the team’s floor leader earlier this month. He played well in that role last season after injuries struck but the starter in recent seasons, Goran Dragic, remains on the roster.
- Butler would consider playing for Team USA in next year’s Olympics if he’s asked, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets.
- Prior to re-signing veteran forward Udonis Haslem, Riley asked him if he wanted to coach this summer, Reynolds tweets. Haslem said he wasn’t interested in coaching but Riley believes he’ll eventually change his mind, Reynolds adds.
Please let’s all just ignore the top 10 player comment. Jimmy is arguably a top 40 player, let’s just be mum on where he fits between 1-40.
He dropped from #13 to #21 on ESPN’s list this year.
Next year he will drop even more, maybe out of the top 40.
Jimmy Butler is a top 10 in terms of being able to do it on both ends of the floor. He can lock him man down one end while getting over 20 on the other end. Even if he isn’t as good as Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker or Blake Griffin, Theres no doubt he won’t bring his 100% on both ends which can’t be said about the guys above him.
I really respect Jimmy Buckets how he’s worked from nothing to where he is now. He may not be the easiest guy to get along with in the locker room but he just wants everyone else to play at their best and compete at a good level. Miami should be a good fit for him. Winslow is decent on attack and a great defender, Bam is improving both ends of the floor and try’s his hardest. James Johnson and Haslem are both solid vets that’ll make the locker room better. Just think this Heat team needs another star to help Jimmy and push Miami over the hump.
I’d be thinking CP3 for Hardaway and Olynyk (Dragic to Dallas), or Dargic and Okynyk for Kyle Lowry.
CP3 and Lowry both are decent scorers but are really good creators, play good defence and can be a vet leader next to Jimmy
OKC isn’t getting anything for CP3 without attaching multiple first round picks in the trade. His enormous contract is an albatross.
CP3 still holds decent value. Yes he has an awful contract but in a bad year he still plays about 60 games and averages 16/8/5 while shooting it for about 46% from the floor and 36% from deep. Not to mention he’s a future HOF, can lock down his opposite and is a good veteran leader.
In the real basketball Jimmy is a top10.
In RS he was the third guy in Philadelphia, but when the RSshow end and the real game, the playoffs, started, he become the alpha guy…
Depends what we are talking about, RS circus or playoff basketball…