On the one hand, it is a significant decision that eliminates a potential stumbling block between Butler and the team. However, from the Heat’s perspective, it’s not a big problem. They weren’t going to offer Butler a huge new contract anyway.
Butler’s current contract lasts two years and is worth $100 million. However, the second year is a $52 million player option, which means he may finish the 2024-25 season in Miami before hitting the free agent market next summer. There was also speculation that he may seek a trade if the Miami Heat did not commit to paying him now.
Butler will turn 35 in September. By putting aside the possibility of an extension, some of the trade speculation surrounding Butler, who had been linked to trades with the Warriors and Sixers, can now be alleviated.
“His choice to play out next season binds him to Miami and eliminates any possibility of a trade demand due to the lack of an extension. Butler has a strong fondness for Miami and has expressed a desire to remain with the Heat, according to league sources,” Charania said.
Miami Heat remains cost-conscious.
Butler must try to rebound from a poor season in 2023-24, after leading the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals despite receiving only the No. 8 seed in the East. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists for the fourth consecutive season, however he only appeared in 60 games and was not named to the All-Star team for the second year in succession.
Butler played only 60 games this season and hurt his knee in the Heat’s play-in game before facing the Celtics. He missed the whole series, which the Heat eventually lost in five games.
Concerns about Butler’s age, health, and price tag under a strict new set of NBA tax rules—the Heat have previously been careful to avoid the tax—made a new extension from the Heat or anybody else improbable.
Jimmy Butler Drew’s Rebuke of Pat Riley
Following the playoff loss, team president Pat Riley, a longtime Butler admirer, issued a public condemnation of the player, fueling questions about his long-term future with the franchise.
Riley chastised Butler for trolling the Celtics and Knicks as they advanced in the playoffs, claiming the teams would have been at home if Butler hadn’t been injured.
“For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?'” Riley spoke in May. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston, if you’re not on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut in your criticism of those teams.”
Riley stated at the time that he did not intend to trade Butler. However, he was in no haste to pay him extra money.
“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 informed the crowd. “That is the truth.” We need to consider making such a commitment and when we should do it. “We don’t have to do it until 2025, actually.”
Leave a Reply