Miami Heat Facing $135,000,000 Jimmy Butler Dilemma in Offseason, Will the Heat part ways with Jimmy Butler?, Heat’s GM finally state their stance on…..
Jimmy Butler has played for the Miami Heat for half a decade. Throughout that period, Butler managed to help Miami make two NBA Finals appearances, one in 2020 and one last season. However, after the Heat made a first-round exit after the Boston Celtics went 4-1 in their series, could we see Jimmy and his team part ways?
Miami’s star isn’t to blame for their loss in the NBA Playoffs considering Butler was sidelined due to a sprained ligament in his right knee. But there’s a small chance that the Heat might want to explore their options and see how they could reshape the roster. With that said, here are some trade destinations for Butler if Miami decides to move on.
Miami Heat News: Jimmy Butler Seeking Max Extension
What was made clear by the Heat’s series loss against the Celtics is that they’re not a very good team without Jimmy Butler. The six-time All-Star himself knows how much he brings to the table for this squad, and apparently, he wants to squeeze every penny out of his value this summer.
According to team insider Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Butler will be demanding a contract extension from the Heat this summer for the maximum value:
“Jimmy Butler, who turns 35 on Sept. 14, is expected to seek a maximum two-year contract extension worth about $113 million from the Heat this offseason, according to a league source,” Chiang wrote.
For what it’s worth, Butler’s current deal extends through 2026. Over the next two seasons, he will be pocketing upwards of $100 million.
It is worth noting, however, that Butler has a player option for 2025-26, which means that he could walk away as an unrestricted free agent next summer. In order to avoid this unwanted turn of events, the Heat will need to dig deep into their pockets in the offseason to match Butler’s $135 million demand.
Butler knows that this could very well be his last chance to secure a big-money contract, and apparently, he’s now looking at roughly $45 million annually to remain in South Beach.
The Heat organization will need to think long and hard about how they intend to move forward with this because a misstep could lead to catastrophe for them.
Atlanta Hawks take Jimmy Butler
If Butler were to move to a different team, it’d be best if he could play alongside another franchise player. The Atlanta Hawks currently have a decision to make on which star they want to keep, Dejounte Murray or Tray Young. Given how one star could make an exit, that creates a perfect opportunity for another star to swoop in.
The ideal scenario would be if Butler could play alongside Young. The Heat star is a small forward who focuses on getting buckets, hence the nickname Jimmy Buckets. Having a player like Trae by his side might be a lethal combo. Young is a versatile point guard who can both distribute the ball and score big-time baskets.
Nothing is for sure, but there’s a slight possibility that the duo of Butler and Young could boost Atalnta’s ranking in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte Hornets take Jimmy Butler
Another team that could benefit both parties is the Charlotte Hornets. Since the arrival of LaMelo Ball in Charlotte, the team only made a couple of NBA Play-In Tournament appearances and never made the playoffs. If the Hornets decide to trade for Butler, he could help elevate Ball’s career.
LaMelo is already an All-Star in the league but lacks the support of solid players. Ball being injury-prone is a factor as to why the Hornets struggle for success. However, there’s no denying that the star guard needs another star in his team. Having Jimmy on their roster could increase the team’s offensive prowess and also give Melo a better scoring option to dish to.
Ball is one of the best playmakers in the league today. The Hornets star can have Butler focus on scoring while he takes charge of creating plays for his teams, with the occasional buckets on the side. Charlotte would also benefit from a potential scoring duo between Jimmy and Brandon Miller. Butler can play at the power forward position while Miller retains the three spot.
Utah Jazz takes Jimmy Butler
The Utah Jazz are in their rebuilding phase. As of the moment, the faces of the team feature Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, and Collin Sexton. Among those three names, only Markkanen is an All-Star player. But that doesn’t make Clarkson and Sexton lesser players compared to Lauri. Both guards are efficient shooters capable of taking charge of games from time to time.
Now, if the Jazz were to bring in a legitimate star to the team and retain their existing three faces, Utah might morph into a scary unit in the Western Conference. Sexton can focus on playmaking, Clarkson can take care of the outside shots, Butler handles the mid-range, then Markkanen dominates inside the paint.
Honestly, the chances of the Heat letting go of Butler are low. However, it wouldn’t be surprising as well if they decided to experiment with running with new players. In the meantime, all Miami fans can do is wait for Pat Riley to make decisions during the offseason.
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