Jimmy Butler has already sewn seeds for next steps as media tantrum offers latest twist in Miami Heat future fears
NBA trade season is amongst us and a new star is on the market – and the clues have been there all season. The Miami Heat have reportedly made Jimmy Butler, the 14-year NBA veteran in his sixth season with the Heat, available to other teams. Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Miami Heat are “open to listening” to offers for Butler, who is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Butler has led the Miami Heat to two NBA finals since he arrived in 2019 and with the 35-year-old not signing an extension last summer, he could be a free agent in the summer. Butler does have a $52.4 million player option for 2025/26 but with the Heat willing to trade him, it is unclear whether a future in Miami actually exists. ESPN also reported that Butler is open to trade and he does not plan to pick up his player option but only if the proposal is right. According to Charania “teams have been informed” that Butler intends to opt out of his contract at the end of the current season and become a free agent. The 35-year-old wants is reportedly keen on a move to a contender with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks mentioned by Charania’s reporting. Butler is still rated as an All-Star level player with an efficiency rate that is the highest that it has ever been in his career and once playoff season arrives, his history shows he rises to the occasion. Butler is remaining tight-lipped and the NBA veteran declined to talk media on Tuesday according to Miami beat writer Barry Jackson. The ESPN article does mention that Butler ‘has an affinity’ to Miami but the team, who have proven doubters wrong before, do not quite have the look of contenders. Tyler Herro is starring but Bam Adebayo is having a poor defensive year while the Terry Rozier trade is yet to work out. View Tweet: https://twitter.com/flasportsbuzz/status/1866530552590860535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Jimmy Butler has reached two NBA finals with Miami That said the Heat are 12-10 and fifth in the Eastern Conference, making Butler’s stance something of a surprise. Butler reminded everyone back in October that money is not his sole motivation as he chases a first ever ring. “If we’re being brutally honest, no matter what, nothing I do now is going to get me paid any more money, even though I don’t care about the money,” Butler said. “I’m at a point right now where I have more than enough money. I’m just here to win.” Wherever Butler goes he is likely to have a major impact but with Miami needing to rebuild and the 35-year-old wanting a title, a trade might just work everyone. Having exited the NBA Cup last week, Miami are up against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, before hosting the Pistons.
NBA trade season is amongst us and a new star is on the market – and the clues have been there all season.
The Miami Heat have reportedly made Jimmy Butler, the 14-year NBA veteran in his sixth season with the Heat, available to other teams.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Miami Heat are “open to listening” to offers for Butler, who is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Butler has led the Miami Heat to two NBA finals since he arrived in 2019 and with the 35-year-old not signing an extension last summer, he could be a free agent in the summer.
Butler does have a $52.4 million player option for 2025/26 but with the Heat willing to trade him, it is unclear whether a future in Miami actually exists.
ESPN also reported that Butler is open to trade and he does not plan to pick up his player option but only if the proposal is right.
According to Charania “teams have been informed” that Butler intends to opt out of his contract at the end of the current season and become a free agent.
The 35-year-old wants is reportedly keen on a move to a contender with the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks mentioned by Charania’s reporting.
Butler is still rated as an All-Star level player with an efficiency rate that is the highest that it has ever been in his career and once playoff season arrives, his history shows he rises to the occasion.
Butler is remaining tight-lipped and the NBA veteran declined to talk media on Tuesday according to Miami beat writer Barry Jackson.
The ESPN article does mention that Butler ‘has an affinity’ to Miami but the team, who have proven doubters wrong before, do not quite have the look of contenders.
Tyler Herro is starring but Bam Adebayo is having a poor defensive year while the Terry Rozier trade is yet to work out.
That said the Heat are 12-10 and fifth in the Eastern Conference, making Butler’s stance something of a surprise.
Butler reminded everyone back in October that money is not his sole motivation as he chases a first ever ring.
“If we’re being brutally honest, no matter what, nothing I do now is going to get me paid any more money, even though I don’t care about the money,” Butler said.
“I’m at a point right now where I have more than enough money. I’m just here to win.”
Wherever Butler goes he is likely to have a major impact but with Miami needing to rebuild and the 35-year-old wanting a title, a trade might just work everyone.
Having exited the NBA Cup last week, Miami are up against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, before hosting the Pistons.
