This past season, Jimmy Butler was pivotal for the Miami Heat, with the team outscoring opponents by 5.5 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court. At 34, he averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, playing a central role for Miami when available. However, he only participated in 60 games and missed the Heat’s first-round playoff series against the Celtics, which Boston won in five games.
Butler loves Miami, but financial considerations are significant. With two years and $101.2 million left on his current contract, including a player option for the second year, he is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension this summer. Butler is eager for this extension, and other teams are observing whether the Heat will offer it. If not, it might prompt Miami to explore trade options. Shams Charania of The Athletic discussed this on The Pat McAfee Show, emphasizing Butler’s preference to stay in Miami but noting multiple teams are willing to offer him an extension.
“My sense is Jimmy Butler does not want to be anywhere but Miami. My sense is that he loves it in Miami. But again, he is extension-eligible this year. There are multiple teams out there that would give him an extension, and I think this is something that we’ll see play out over the next month or so. The Heat don’t want to trade him; he wants an extension. Will they give him an extension? That’s the question,” Charania said.
It appears likely that Butler will attend training camp with the Heat next season. Pat Riley, the team’s president, mentioned after their playoff elimination that the front office hadn’t discussed an extension internally but made a pointed comment directed at Butler.
“That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley said. This situation is being closely watched by teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, who have cap space and a need for an elite wing player alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Other teams seeking a win-now star are also monitoring developments in Miami.
While it is likely that Butler will remain with the Heat, there are many possible outcomes. A non-max extension might be reached, or talks could be postponed until next summer. The situation is fluid, and many teams are watching to see how it resolves.
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