As hard as it may be, the Miami Heat have been faced with the daunting task of earning wins throughout all the Jimmy Butler drama. Unfortunately for them, that has proved to be easier said than done— as Miami loses to the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 116-107 on Tuesday night.
It was the Heat’s fourth loss in the last five games. Not even the new Bam Adebayo-Kel’el Ware frontcourt dynamic was enough to quiet the outside noise and pick up the victory against a struggling Blazers squad. Portland came into the night sporting a 14-28 record; good for the 13th seed in the Western Conference.
Miami displayed some sizzling shooting early on, going 64% from the field with 78% from 3-point range on 7 of 9 overall to end the first quarter. However, the Blazers responded with dominant showings in the 2nd and 3rd, despite the terrific efforts from Ware in his first career start.
The rookie finished the night with a 20 points and 15 rebounds double-double to go along with a pair of blocks.
When asked about his thoughts on the big man’s starting debut, coach Erik Spoelstra seemed impressed in the postgame presser.
“The upside obviously is very encouraging,” Spoelstra said. “That’s why he’s in the starting line-up right now. Frankly, we need to get him in there for more minutes.”
Duncan Robinson also continue his recent stretch of hot shooting. He pitched in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 8 of 15 shooting and six 3-point splashes. Unfortunately, the team got minimal offensive contributions elsewhere outside of Robinson and Ware.
The Heat’s dud went deeper than just struggles from the supporting cast tonight. They entered the game without the services of Tyler Herro, who sat out due to right groin tightness. Although, the guard mentioned that he will be good to go for Thursday’s matchup in Milwaukee. It was his first missed game of the season.
Maybe Butler’s impact also had a negative effect on the loss. Like he has shown in the last two games since his return, he seemed completely disinterested. The whole vibe has an awkward cloud around the locker room currently as Butler has seemed to isolate himself from his teammates, while he still searches for a trade out of South Beach.
He finished with 13 points and 8 assists on 4 of 9 shooting overall on the night. When asked about the effort from the disgruntled star, Spoelstra refused to even entertain the question.
The Blazers earned this win with their two-way play of the entire rotation. Anfernee Simons led with a game-high 24 points and six 3-point makes. Deandre Ayton’s elite and efficient 22 and 15 double-double on 11 of 14 shooting throttled the Heat down low, and they didn’t have much answers regardless of Ware’s terrific outing.
Portland outscored Miami 63-39 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the game combined. Spearheaded by some of the Heat youngsters, a late fourth quarter run to cut into the deficit was too little too late.
They will get their next chance to bounce back Thursday night against the rival Milwaukee Bucks.
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Fascinating that now the Butler invented no-trade clause only includes Memphis. Not sure why…but that has to help some, as after all the hubbub, I think the Heat were still trying somewhat to accommodate Jimmy. Now, there are enough choices to find someone despite all the baggage surrounding Jimmy, expensive, aging, difficult, etc. He still can help a veteran team languishing around .500 or an up and comer who wants to smell the playoffs. This is now well beyond the point of no return. Let’s end this drama, get the best deal possible taking it all the way to the deadline if necessary, but make sure Jimmy is gone by 2-6, almost no matter what.
Trade Scenario #3,216
Miami Receives:
Golden State Receives:
What incentive does GS have to make this trade? Nothing. No one in their right mind is going to trade that for Butler. An expensive, malcontent that would rather burn the house down than not get his way.
Butler missed team flight this morning. Looking at another suspension (2 day). Stupid is as stupid does.
I received a Kaseya Center tour for Christmas and we will be going Saturday. If a trade is not done by then, I will personally empty Butler’s locker and toss his belongings onto Biscayne Boulevard! 😂
Leave a 76ers jersey in his locker to let him know the 2nd round is a good as he’ll get in Phoenix, if they even make it in 😛
Throw his stuff into traffic while you’re at it lol. I’m getting tired of his antics, can’t wait until he’s traded, and gone.
Take care of Jimmy too. The closest trash basket will be ok.
And while you are there take a peek into Riley’s office to ask why the Heat got desperate to get him off the sixers.
Here’s my six team trade scenario:
If Miami gets Middleton and Portis plus two first round picks out of this trade, the first order of business should be trading for a legit point guard. This team needs a good floor general very badly so that Herro’s offensive abilities can be fully unleashed. How about Highsmith, Richardson and a pick for Josh Giddey? May as well also try to trade Rozier and a pick for Kuzma.
Heat gets: Middleton, Portis, Giddey, Kuzma
Phoenix gets: Butler
Milwaukee gets: Beal plus a pick from Phoenix which goes to Detroit
Detroit gets: Connaughton from Milwaukee plus pick via Phoenix
Chicago gets: Highsmith, Richardson plus pick from *Miami via Phoenix
Washington gets: Rozier plus pick from *Miami via Phoenix
Point Guards: Giddey, Jaquez, Burks, Stevens,
Shooting Guards: Herro, Robinson, Larsson,
Small Forwards: Kuzma, Middleton, Jovic, Johnson
Power Forwards and Centers: Bam, Portis, Ware, Love
Starters: Giddey (6’8″), Herro (6’5″), Kuzma (6’9″), Bam (6’9″), Ware (7’0″)
2nd Unit: Jaquez (6’6″), Robinson (6’8″), Middleton (6’7″), Jovic (6’10”), Portis (6’10”)
Reserves: Stevens, Burks, Larsson, Johnson, Love
Sure, I’d like it, but I don’t know if Chicago would be willing to give up Giddy so soon. If they’re willing to accept that offer, then definitely!
Expiring contract. Stats not that great. 11.4/ 7.3/ 6.7
Heat suspending Butler for 2 more games per Shams. They are seeing what we are seeing.
I don’t recall an uglier time in the history of the Heat. Somewhere, Smush Parker is smiling. Maybe Dion and Johnson too (probably celebrating with a gummy)!
There was a little Hassan heat as well, but nothing like this.
Missed a team flight as he was going solo again to meet the team in Milwaukee. I’m enjoying these suspensions. The team shouldn’t pay him money if he’s not playing the way his current contract dictates. Total will probably be close to 3 million, so not much for him, but it’s the principle of it.
Will be a miracle if he’s not traded by Monday vs Magic.
prob dont want him injured rc .
hopefully middleton and portis can play against the bucks thurs get this pos out of town to phoenix
This game was lost because of terrible playmaking. Without Herro and Dru, that was a complete disaster. Rosier should go, he is hurting this team.
That game really made the case for Tyler as our MVP. Jimmy DuckIt cried to the media that he was being moved to a third option, and yet on a night when he could have shown he was still in his prime, to be brutally honest, he was Passer McPassing. Dat mf
With all the ugliness surrounding Jimmy, let’s not lose focus at who this embarrassment of a game is more down to. This organization is in absolute turmoil and the finger should be pointed at the Godfather who has been sleeping with the fishes for two years now. Jimmy’s leaving won’t fix this laughing stalk of a team. Ware’s emergence, Bam’s hard efforts, Ty’s skill, and Dunc’s shooting won’t be enough either. From there it goes pretty straight downhill, and without Jimmy’s leadership the flaws come increasingly into focus. Maybe I would keep Jovic, and that’s a maybe, everyone else can be upgraded on.
It’s sad that Portland looked closer to contention than we did, but honestly, that’s what I see. All of Pat’s mistakes are there for those who open their eyes from reminiscing in the fog of past successes. Just three years ago we were at the precipice, but our downfall began with Kyle Lowry and has deepened with almost every move or non-move thereafter. And, we may be about to get fleeced again.
Hang in there, buddy!
negative 30 today after san antonio win positive.30.ware bam ty nice 3 4-6 need better jjj jovic dunc etc 7-10.but yes pat has made some mistakes like all gms kelel bam ty not mistakes.especially kelel
And it sounds like the Heat will end up with some picks, which gives them ammo for the next trade, say for Giannis or Luka in a year. 😉
neither Luka nor Giannis will end up in Miami. Nothing appealing about this roster or assets when either of them become available.
You know I have great respect for you whether or not we agree on something, but I might have to start calling you Eggo because you, um, tend to waffle a lot 😆😆.
Fair enough. I try to believe. Hard to not see after last night what a mess we are and who’s to blame. If Portland had our coach and was fully healthy each time they played us, they would beat us three out of four, and they are amongst the weakest in the league. Jimmy carried us. Without him, going to be tough.
What people who defend Pat miss is the criticism only starts three, and really four years ago. That’s when he started to become ineffective as a GM. A team can play very well, even go to the finals, and still be weakened or not keep up with other teams improvements, by mistakes by our GM. It takes time for a top team with a top performer to start to decline. Those mistakes and that decline has followed us ever since, deepening each year. Losing Jimmy may exacerbate that process.
Pat basically lost his flexibility,,adaptability, turned people off, got too ego involved, started being ineffective, especially in the area of not doing anything. He is to blame for all this as Jimmy wants money sure, but he also wanted a competitive team.
That’s why I stand behind my comments that Pat is the problem, stopped being effective three years ago, and needs to go asap.
But it still all boils down to mostly one contract – Lowry and his $85 million. Once Riley made that mistake, there was no way to add any significant other player. I had high hopes when we got Rozier here, that he could help create an offensive spark. Right now, it seems like I was wrong. But you seem to indicate that multiple mistakes were made in this period. Can you name 2 or 3 that he legitimately could’ve done? Within the parameters of the CBA? I don’t remember every deal without doing research, so maybe I’ve forgotten something.
when u have lebron james in a heat uni u do everything in the world to keep him here.the greatest bball ever possibly u do everything u can to keep him in the bldg.didnt understand pat clashing with lebron that was a bummer losing lebron.losing jimmy who at this stage is a good player not great is not that big a deal.still overall pat gets a pass.just think of louis schafel and billy cunningham days.scary thought 30.nobodys perfect but pats pretty dam good as a gm.look at the panthers besides last few years and 1 cup final they have been irrelevant for decades.we were spoiled by pat welcome to the ups and downs of sports teams
lol, Lebron was never going to stay in Miami. He was always planning on returning to Cleveland or head west if Cleveland didn’t work out. Why do all think that MIA is so rosy and everyone wants to go and play there? Why do y’all think that you can trade for anyone you want? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that Y’all and phoenix are the most out-of-touch fan bases.
Hey, don’t you dare talk about Duncan’s shooting like that.
if the draft is redone kelel is #1 pick.?what took spo so long to use him smh
Props to Five Reasons Sports for that amazing photo. Unfortunately for everyone involved, that will be the enduring image of the last Jimmy Butler season in Miami.
In my opinion, this drops Jimmy below the status of guys like Bosh and Zo that are forever beloved, and into the realm of Shaq or Ray Allen. A Top-10 Heat player of all time for sure, but borderline Top-5
A top-5 douche for sure.
That picture tells the whole story.
spos non use of bam very perplexing he was ok when he played
This would have never happened if Jimmy Butler was still alive. Hopefully this wakes Pat Riley up out of his coma
Change is coming. Suns traded 2031 pick to Utah for 3 lower first round picks in 2025, 27, and 29. Hopefully this saga ends in the next couple of days!! I am looking forward to whatever comes next!
hearing beal and a 1 to milw portis middleton 2 1s to heat quitter to suns connaughtton to det or toronto involved we get brown and portis 2 1s its happening very very soon.this ended very ugly all due to jimmy thanks for nothing quitter
Thanks. I’m good with that.
Agreed. I’m happy with Brown, Portis, and 2 firsts. The sooner Jimmy is gone the better. Hope he finds joy with the 12th place Suns
He will find his joy in the extra year of his max. contract he will get in Phoenix.
Anything we get in return is better than him playing without joy and being a distraction for the team.
I would actually like that trade, especially when we have an infiltrator on the team doing his best to bleep this season up. I actually think Brown coming back to where he played college ball will ignite a spark in his play. Portis seems like he would embrace Heat culture. That alone makes the trade worth it.