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ESPN insider Brian Windhorst says it’s crucial for Jimmy Butler to have a big year

Jimmy Butler
The legend of “Playoff Jimmy” was paused for a year following Jimmy Butler’s season ending knee injury, but the media is expecting a bounce back from the superstar. (Isaac Baldizon/Getty Images)

The tipping point of the Miami Heat’s injury plagued 2023-24 season came in the first play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Jimmy Butler appeared to blowout his knee in a drive to the basket against Kelly Oubre, sidelining him for the remainder of the game and entire postseason. Thankfully, Butler’s injury turned out to be just an MCL sprain and no structural damage or fracture.

However, the Heat went on to not only lose that play-in, but also get gentlemen swept out of the first round to the eventual champion Boston Celtics. The team was also without the services of Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson, along with a hobbled Duncan Robinson playing at probably 50% health with a back injury. Ultimately, the injuries to some of the team’s most important rotation pieces made it impossible to overcome down the stretch of the season.

Eastern Conference rivals that have been eliminated by Butler and the Heat in recent years, such as the Celtics, Sixers, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks may have gotten a pass this time around. But the legend of “Playoff Jimmy” will hopefully resume come this season’s playoffs. ESPN insider and reporter Brian Windhorst mentioned on the Hoops Collective recent show that a bounce back year from Butler is crucial.

This isn’t the first time a voice in the media has linked Butler to potentially having a huge 2024-25 season. Top NBA insider Shams Charania noted that Butler is “determined” to have a career year for the Heat next season.

“I’m told (Jimmy Butler) will not be signing an extension with the Heat or any other team ahead of his opt-out in 2025. … he has an affinity for Miami; wants to be with the Heat…

Butler is absolutely determined to have a big season next year and set himself up for a major payday in 2025.”

There are a lot of accuracy and levels to these notions by the media. Butler opted to wait until next summer to make a decision on either opting into his near $53 million deal or become an unrestricted free agent. He is banking on himself to prove to Miami and the entire league that he deserves one last big payday to close out his career. The Heat franchise star is set to be 36 years old by next season, so there may be very few fits around the association that would want to provide Butler with that kind of money if he potentially hits the open market.

Pat Riley noted at his end of season press conference that he wants to see a commitment from Butler in playing more games before utilizing those kinds of resources to pay him. There is no question that this is a man that’s provided the Heat with one of the most successful eras of basketball in franchise history, after leading them to a pair of NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals in a five-year span. Butler deserves all the money he wants and then some, but unfortunately there are cap limits.

In 66 games and what casual NBA fans thought was a down-year, he still wound up putting up All-Star caliber numbers:

  • 20.8 PPG
  • 5.3 RBS
  • 5.0 ASTS
  • 1.3 STLS
  • 50/41/86 shooting splits

His 41.4% 3P was a career-high, and is a part of his game that may become more important as Butler ages.

If it makes sense health and performance wise, there should no issues in finding a way for Riley to make the room to provide Butler with his lucrative final NBA contract. With that being said, expect him to play with a vengeance in a bounce back season that gives the Heat no choice but to pay him what he has earned.

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Reality Czech

Miami hasn’t been very active this summer. Its only addition in free agency has been Alec Burks despite losing Caleb Martin, Patty Mills and Orlando Robinson.”
The statement is essentially true. However, also true is the Heat replaced those 3 players with Burks, Ware, and Pelle. I see that as a net gain.
(Spo’s) “star player is two years older, and his depth is thinner.”
Yes, Butler is older and many of us have been FOR trading him. But the bench (and I’m going to hope for a healthier team this season) consists of Jaquez, Highsmith, Ware, Burks, JRich, Duncan, Love, Pelle, and Bryant. Maybe not a great bench, but a capable one.

Reality Czech

Okay, a Bleacher Report trade proposal and my math calculations.
Bleacher report:
Heat get Kuzma.
Wizards get Duncan, Jovic, JRich, and 2030 top 10 protected first.
For the record, I would do this trade.
The Heat would free up $1.4 million in this trade. They are currently $1.1 million under the second apron. That’s $2.5 million. You are required to have a minimum of 14 players, and since this is a 3 for 1 deal, the Heat would have to add 2 players. But due to minimum salary requirements, the 2 players would HAVE TO HAVE ZERO years experience – you couldn’t sign veterans as minimum salary for a 1 year player is $1.8 million (it goes up with each year of experience). But you can sign Keshad, plus Christopher (or Stevens or Alondes) and remain under the second apron.
Also note that Kuzma has one of the rarest contracts in the league, in that it declines each of the next 2 years and has no player or team option.
Make it so!

vagibugi

I would agree, if there would be somebody else then Kuzma. I don’t like him.

heat for life

your getting rid of a player nobody wants.a fellow serb who prob cant play in nba.and an old man what the f do u expect to get.kuzma would be an upgrade for sure.

vagibugi

There is a reason, that Washington is a loosing team. He was a good player back in LA, but in Washington he become a slightly above average scorer on not much else. I dont know if he able to transform back in, say, 20 ppg, 36/45 scorer and a decent defender.

I argue that he is not a player which makes a big difference. Team with him would be better, yes, but not significally. Trading 3 players, one of that good young one , (not my fellow serb, I m a Slovenian), and a pick is just too much.

If there would be Dunc, JRich, Pelle and second picks trades for Kuzma, I would think about it.

But not really. Dunc is one of my favourable players since he learned his rim drives and making plays. I would trade him for a star only.

SunManFromDogBone

Kuzma had a very good defensive rating while he was with the Lakers. It has gone downhill since he has been with the (no defense) Wizards. He is perfectly capable of being a defensive stopper in the future in a defensive-minded structure such as the Heat’s.

The beauty of this trade is that you can split Kuzma’s time between PF and SF. This would accomplish several things.

1) It would give Jimmy more time off to keep his body fresh. Spo could also split his time between the SF and SG positions.
2) It would give Spo an opportunity to gradually work Ware into the rotation and Bam into the PF position.
3) It would give Spo the opportunity to use Herro at the SG position and as sixth man.
4) Once the team meshes and the new players (Ware and Kuzma) have adjusted to their roles, the Heat could be a very formidable, younger and taller team.
5) An added benefit is that it would give other NBA teams an opportunity to see Butler and Herro in different roles and potentially increase their trade values during the season/before the trade deadline.

Ideal Starters/Second Unit/Reserves:
PG: Rozier/Herro/Stevens (Herro: Sixth man candidate/trade fodder)
SG: Butler/Burkes/Larsson
SF: Kuzma/Jaquez/Johnson (Jaquez: Sixth man candidate)
PF: Bam/Highsmith/
C: Ware/Love/Bryant

Looking towards the future, Kuzma, Bam, Ware, Jaquez, Larsson, Johnson, Stevens, Pullin, plus players and draft picks the team can get in trade for Butler, Herro and possibly Rozier, could create the core of a formidable team for years to come.

GO HEAT!!!

P.S. The glass is definitely HALF-FULL!!!

Reality Czech

Agree. And while I vehemently disagree with (not you) writing off a just turned 21, 6’10” sf/pf that shot 40% from distance last season, Kuzma would be a better fit for the team NOW. Assuming Ware doesn’t start from opening day, you would have 5 starters that have averaged about 20 per game. Another benefit in my scenario is that it would open up 2 2-way spots to stockpile more undrafted players with potential (Alondes?).

SunManFromDogBone

Let’s see if Riley can work his magic.

heat for life

im looking for hh to take a jump.hes already an all star defender who needs to think scoring.hes got the tools just need to get it in his head to fkn score.

SunManFromDogBone

Excellent rotation player/closing defender. I don’t know if he will ever be a starting caliber scorer.

ManilaHeat

Tell us something we don’t know.
But this is just lol….
“…the Celtics, Sixers, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks may have gotten a pass this time around.” Let’s go Heat!!

SunManFromDogBone

It will be very interesting to see the performance gap between Butler and Jaquez. If it less than 5 ppg, I see no reason to keep Butler at $100+ million for two years when the team will have Jaquez for two more years on his rookie contract.

ManilaHeat

But what if it’s 30+ pts ave? 😁😉

SunManFromDogBone

I think Jaime will improve but not that much

Last edited 27 days ago by SunManFromDogBone
heat for life

15 pts 5 reb 3 assists

SunManFromDogBone

20 pts, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and $50 million vs 15/5/3. Adios Jimmy.

Last edited 26 days ago by SunManFromDogBone
heat for life

1st half jaime was very good second half jaime not to good.think hes gonna be a serviceable player .dont see all star in him.

SunManFromDogBone

Time will tell. I don’t see another all-star selection for Butler either. $100+ million 2 years way too much. He screwed up deciding to coast last year. Poor example to the younger guys.

heat for life

he has a better chance than jaime

HHHFAN4Life

lol Tyler herro has a better chance of being an all star than Jimmy does, I would hope the “best player on the team” would have a chance to be all star over the 2nd year player. The defending and excuses y’all make for Jimmy is hilarious. Hasn’t don’t more than Chris Bosh here yet he’s so beloved because he “saved” Mia which is total bs. The months before he came was wade last dance they didn’t win many games but that was an exciting/sad season for most fans. While som have revisionist history it’s Time for people to stop acting like Mia was a bottom feeder forever before butler got here.

heat for life

overall hes been awesome since hes been here.last year to many injuries besides that hes been an elite player ever since he arrived here,what the f has ty done,he scores 20 gives up 30 always hurt at his young age

SunManFromDogBone

That’s why, ideally, unless they show us something better than what they have shown lately, they both should be gone by the trade deadline.

heat for life

nobody wants one way players sun,theyre extinct only we have them lol.jimmy is still our best player until proven otherwise.if he has any pride and wants to reestablish his ss image than get serious about the game that gave u million$$.stop the exracurricular bs and get in lebron shape,

SunManFromDogBone

The NBA is full of one-way players. The only question is what do we get in return? If Miami can trade for Kuzma, there are many possibilities for additional trades, starting with Butler and Herro!

Reality Czech

Correct. The problem isn’t having one way players. The problem is overpaying for them, which is what happened with Duncan.

heat for life

please name some luka trae young only 2 i come up with

SunManFromDogBone
vagibugi

no luka and there is Kuzma

SunManFromDogBone

Kuzma had a very good defensive rating with Lakers and first year with Wizards, where he has been required to carry the offensive load. Wizards team defense sucks. I never said Luka’s defense was bad. Maybe you are confusing me with H4L. https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/luka-doncic-defensive-rating
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/kyle-kuzma-defensive-rating-by-season

Reality Czech

If the Butler we saw this last season is still our best player, it is definitely time to tear it down. One way or the other, I think this is his last season on the Heat – UNLESS he gives them a massive discount. And I don’t see that happening.

SunManFromDogBone

If it is Butler’s last season, it is better that he be traded sooner for something than allowed to walk later for nothing. Good time to move on from Herro and Robinson too.

ZechMerquise

personally, im against giving jimmy 2yrs/$100+ million, but not because of jaquez.

jaquez is good, but i think at this point of his career, hes not yet ready to be the ‘jimmy-replacement’.

So regardless of their point difference, i will not extend jimmy. Ill probably look for that younger whale somewhere else.

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