All-NBA Heat forward Jimmy Butler is expected to seek a two-year, maximum-salary contract extension with Miami, worth approximately $113MM, before the start of the 2024/25 season, a source tells Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
The theoretical deal would kick in for 2025/26. Butler has a $52.4MM player option for that year, which the extension would replace.
If Miami opts to not extend Butler, Chiang argues, the team could be faced with an unhappy star. The 34-year-old swingman led the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances – and an additional appearance in the Eastern Finals – during his first four seasons with the club, though he has dealt with a series of injuries, including an MCL sprain that knocked him entirely out of the playoffs this year.
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald speculates about the potential trade haul Miami could receive in exchange for its best player should the team opt not to extend Butler.
There’s more out of Miami:
- Following a first-round playoff elimination marred by injuries, the Heat face a variety of questions about their future this offseason. The biggest, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel contends, surrounds what Miami brass wants to do with shooting guard Tyler Herro. Winderman wonders if Miami will look to trade the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year this summer, or if it will consider demoting him back to a bench role going forward. Herro is owed $93MM across the remaining three years of his deal.
- With the Heat set to explore the trade market this summer, Jackson takes stock of the club’s movable assets, consulting with a rival scout on the value of those pieces. The scout criticized Herro’s inconsistency both as a player and as an injury risk. As far as young players still on rookie scale deals go, the scout is high on the ceilings of forwards Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic. The scout also addressed the contracts of guards Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier, Miami being a potential trade destination for Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, and more.
- One fascinating potential internal change the Heat could consider, according to one alum who still works for the franchise, is shifting All-Star center Bam Adebayo from center to power forward, writes Jackson in another piece. While on the ESPN program “First Take” this week, 20-year Miami vet Udonis Haslem explained why he thinks the 6’9″ big man could benefit from a positional move. “He can guard all five positions but he would have even more of a matchup at the 4 position where we can post him up and do different things with him,” Haslem said. “Go for a center and possibly another scoring guard.” Haslem is currently the Heat’s vice president of basketball development, and also hosts a podcast with fellow ex-Heat champion Mike Miller.
Love UD, but he’s wrong. What bigs are there that make any sense? To play next to Bam especially, they would have to be a floor spacer, and still capable defensively, moreso than the Bam-Kevin Love combo, and not a ball stopper. You can still have a 5 that needs the ball in his hands and have them be effective, but usually only really in certain matchups off the bench, as a way to get more usage…I just don’t see this as the issue for the Heat, even though people incessantly want to make it the problem…How would a big have helped vs Boston?
they’re at a point where 1 of Rozier/Herro and probably Jovic will be attempted to be packaged for a wing piece or another option at the 4…I could also unfortunately see this leading to the end of Duncan Robinson, as they might have to include him in the type of trade to get one of the types of players I’m talking about, mostly as they don’t have the same assets they had previously, and they need him for salary matching
I get your point with Bam and a big, but I too feel that the Heat as a whole would benefit if Bam went to the 4 and the Heat grabbed up a big man that can out least be a defensive presence and rebounder and sort of physical presence to protect Bam from being beat up as much as he does whenever we face a team that has some size on us. Now with Boston, that’s a different situation because they’re a different monster from the other teams.
The Heat are in an interesting situation right now…especially with Jimmy. While he was sorely missed this postseason, when he was there this season, there were early signs of a decline all season. I personally would not extend him, and I’d be happy to accomodate any trade he would want as a result. Heat need to get a younger centerpiece to match up with Bam.
Heat were 7-1 in games Jimmy had a 30% or higher usage rate…they were only a few games out of being the 2 seed; if not for the terrible lowry-rozier trade, and subsequent injuries to jrich, and others immediately after, and then the entire team getting hurt the last 2 weeks, they easily could have had home court in the 1st round, not even considering how many games they lost on the final possessions. I don’t think it’s fair to act like they had a down year through the season. Kyle definitely held it down when guys missed early on, and I don’t think they trade him if they know they’re losing Richardson a few days later, and were getting delon Wright for free, and especially if they foresaw Jimmy going down as he did
Adding another big that you describe next to Bam just makes our spacing even worse. Could we use another smallball 5 option that can do certain things, and would be useful in certain matchups? Ya, I still think that would be interesting; it’s not as important as it has been previously, now that we have Jaime (and Jovic if he isnt traded), but it could still be useful versatility wise in certain matchups
If Bam was the 4 and they had a floor spacing big man, regardless teams would put there centre on bam and PF on your stretch 5. Why, because skill sets.
For example say they had Karl Anthony-Towns or idk Kelly Olynyk at the 5 and were match up with the Pacers. They would still simply have Myles on Bam and Pascal on KAT or Okynyk. If the shooter moves inside them it just clogs the paint, if Bam goes out you don’t need to guard him so Myles just floats in drop cover, they switch Bam out shooter in, then pacers simony switch, Pascal on Bam on the perimeter and Myles on the shooter inside.
Either way it’s not going to work unless Bam learns to shoot the 3 or play make like Jokic.
Correct assessment Form , there is no stretch 5 on the market or at there disposal in free agency
Lakers have this same dilemma w AD, there’s just not a good 5 pairing out there available today. Your best team just ends up with Ad and Bam at the 5 going thru the process.
Heat have almost the identical problems the lakers do , defense on the perimeter and rebounding… Real tough markets to navigate as well
What Stretch-5 are they acquiring? Because Bam isn’t a true floor stretcher.
Their best bet is to go for a stretch-4. Maybe the answer is dealing for Lauri.
Who does he guard? Especially in a matchup like this…
Which person? Bam or Lauri?
Miami in my opinion should trade for Trae Young.
They’ve been chasing a star guard for years now with previous links to Donovan Mitchell, Bradley Beal, James Harden and ofcourse Dame.
Trae we know is being shipped around, his value is at an all time low and you’ve got some assets.
You’ve also got an aging superstar in Jimmy who needs replacing.
Last season Miami ranked in the bottom 10 teams for offensive rating but were 5th in defensive ranking. Highlighting there need to add someone who can help provide a big part of the offence.
Trae Young I think also fits the Heats culture. He’s hardworking, always trying to improve his game, he’s got that underdog mentality and despite his size he can play physical at times.
Obviously he’s not a great defender and at times he also goes searching for foul calls but I think under the guidance of a solid head coach, GM and playing group in Spol,Riley and Jimmy he would improve his game.
The deal I’d try make:
Trae Young and AJ Green for Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and 3 first round picks.
ATL get a solid replacement player in Herro who can slot in at SG with Murray at PG. They have to eat Robinsons contract for salary matching but they get 3 first round picks.
Miami then lines up:
Trae Jacquez Jimmy Jovic Bam
Rozier JRich Green Martin KLove
The issue with Lillard was it makes no sense to use their assets on a guard they don’t need that would be similar to what they already have. Trae Young is on that same line, but not even as good. In a deal for other types, that would be more interesting. Unfortunately, the Heat had injuries to the wrong people at extremely inopportune times at the end of the season, after also making a bad trade similar to the one they were able to avoid in the offseason, and that was that…
Now they’re at a point where 1 of Rozier/Herro and probably Jovic will be attempted to be packaged for a wing piece or another option at the 4…I could also unfortunately see this leading to the end of Duncan Robinson, as they might have to include him in the type of trade to get one of the types of players I’m talking about, mostly as they don’t have the same assets they had previously, and they need him for salary matching
You say “use their assets on a guard they don’t need” but no one on their team is even close to Dame/Trae or someone of that ilk.
As i said they were terrible offensively and very good defensively.
They don’t need a wing/4 they have Bam who does all the work on the inside and Jimmy who does all the work on the wing. They need someone to run the offence, space the floor, and provide everyone else with easier buckets.
You also say he’s not even as good. Yet I’d argue he’s better especially for fit. Better playmaker, much younger and on the same timeline as Bam and his value is lower meaning it’s a better time to buy.
Dame and the Bucks got swept and this with him playing with a former MVP in Giannas and great supporting cast. Whereas Trae has never had elite teammates like that and what he needs around him is good defenders and a solid coaching staff.
I think a big three of Trae Jimmy and Bam would be insane especially considering they’d be able to keep Rozier and their young players, not only that but add AJ Green aswell
Yoy mean AJ Griffin? AJ Green is with Milwaukee…
I never said Milwaukee would do anything after that deal. I always said they’d still be playing brook Lopez way too much, and cost themselves the sane ways they have previously, and the was before they hilariously hired doc rivers, but there is zero argument where Trae Young is as good as Lillard. He is of similar style, as an undersized guard that can’t defend, and as a ball stopper, but he is not as good. He isn’t the spacer Lillard is either, even though he definitely thinks he is
Heat definitely don’t need to combo Trae Young and Terry Rozier at guard…that…I’m actually just going to leave that where it is.
They absolutely still need help on the wing/at the 4. They already needed help there and now they’re losing Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith. They literally just lost to the Celtics. The terrible Lowry-Rozier trade put them in the position they were in, but if they had used Delon Wright better, when he wasn’t sitting out huge game 3s, it would have at least mitigated a little of what they lost defensively/playmaking at guard. If they can hold hom that would go a long way in easing the issue defensively at guard, without Kyle
Miami are done, end of, game over. Not a roster in the east that should be a play in team. Blame who for that? Jimmy heading into the next kawhi territory.
Zach Edey would be a perfect fit next to Bam….. They were going to do this (move bam to the 4) before they traded Hassan Whiteside 5 years ago.. it’s a move that is needed.. and Bam can defend anyone on the floor. As for anyone talking about spacing.. were you not watching Bam start shooting 3’s at the end of this season?
22 percent from three over his career. Shot 20 percent from three against Boston.
When Bam starts knocking down catch and shoot/wide open 3s consistently, where they have to actually guard him put there, then it will matter in that part of the conversation
I’ve only taken a quick glance at a big board, but so far, I like some guys in the 20s, and more in the mid-late 30s, than some of those in that late lottery range
Bam cannot play the 4 as he is currently. If he were Aaron Gordon-level at 3s, sure, next to a good enough shooting big (though this year’s Aaron Gordon wouldn’t cut it, 29% isn’t enough). But there aren’t any stretch 5s available, and certainly none that are a good fit for the Heat’s system. He’s elite at defense and is a fantastic rim-runner, but he can’t handle the offensive responsibilities of the 4 as he is now. If you can’t shoot, you have to be able to attack the rim like Giannis or have enough perimeter shooting around you the way Mobley does to handle the 4. Neither of those is the case here.
Lauri Markkanen is the dream get, but the Heat can’t get him with their assets imo. Jovic is the in-house answer, and he’s about as good as they’re likely to get in FA without giving up too many assets.
If Jerami Grant is available at a decent price, he’s a great fit, despite being on an unfriendly contract. The Blazers aren’t going to be interested in Herro or Rozier, though, so they need a third team, as with last year.
There are a bunch of options for what they need in FA though (on the wing/at the 4), and I would hope someone in their draft ranges could also help, assuming they keep those picks
Also, Mobley should be used more at the 5, like in this matchup with orlando where I thought they would be better off with Okoro and Morris starting over Allen and Garland. Giannis should be used more at smallball 5, like they did when they won in 2021, but they keep using brook Lopez for 40 minutes a game instead
Depends on the situation; Mobley and Allen together absolutely dominated the glass in the first two games of the series and were the main reason Orlando couldn’t do anything. They made the adjustment, obviously, but still relevant. Having both Allen and Mobley on the floor with Garland and Mitchell is the Cavs best 4-man lineup by +/-.
Also, yeah, there are options. But are any of them better than Jovic in a bigger role? He’s been very solid this season and looks set to improve more. Don’t think it’s likely they’ll find his combination of shooting and perimeter defense on the market at the 4.
Just want to note that Jovic, in the last 14 games of the season, played an average of 24 mpg and averaged 11ppg on 47/38/93 shooting with good defense. Him in a full rotation role is a valuable roleplayer for this team; imo they should not move him.
That was before Orlando went back to Wendell Carter at the 5 as a starter. Also, not starting doesn’t mean a unit won’t be on the floor together throughout the game/even as a closing group. Yoy definitely want that balance on the floor, and everyone in the best situation to contribute in the matchup
Jovic as a smallball 5 wasn’t really used that much in those spots. He has improved beyond exponentially since they first drafted him, but there are still so many times he looks like he has never been on a basketball court, on both ends of the floor. He gives them an option at smallball 5, and as a playmaking spacer in some lineups at the 4, but that still leaves them with the same issue at the 4. Jimmy played a lot there, and there’s Jaime; we’re losing Highsmith. Highsmith should have played more the last couple of years, but there are many options to replace him, and add in that spot. I posted a list of potential FA targets on the previous Heat article, though that will likely change between now and during summer league, before FA starts
I think it makes sense that Jovic could potentially be included in a deal, just b/c it could make it easier to move 1 of Rozier/Herro…if they’re looking to make some sort of deal. Lack of assets means he has to be
I thought Butler once said no way he was gonna still be playing at 35…
Add him to the ‘hope I die before I get old’ chorus.
Butler is one of my favorite players in the league. He’s a pure winner. That being said, he has 2 yrs left in the contract. No reason to give him an extension now. Let him earn it next season.
1yr w player op, so essentially he’s walking into next year with all the leverage to ask for more