The Heat’s choice to hold onto Jimmy Butler could come back to haunt them.
The Heat are determined to hold onto their star player for one more season, even though all indications lead to a breakup with Jimmy Butler in the 2025 offseason. Despite the possibility of losing Butler for nothing as a free agent next year, the Heat have no intention of selling him, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
“Butler originally wanted an extension from the Heat this summer, but then changed his mind after Miami did not offer one,” Jackson stated. “He now plans to finish out this season without signing a contract extension with a team, and in the summer of 2025, he will be able to sign a free agency contract. A source claims that Butler is not being pursued by the Heat.”
The Heat are undoubtedly taking a chance by hanging onto Butler, who is still valued as a trade asset and might return with significant components to complement players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. The current squad isn’t good enough to compete in the Eastern Conference, which improved dramatically this offseason. The young Magic are expected to be better after getting postseason experience, while the Bucks will try to recover from a dismal season. Meanwhile, the Knicks and Sixers made significant squad upgrades. Of course, nobody expects the defending champion Celtics to miss a beat.
As a result, it makes sense to forecast the Heat to finish in the center of the pack for the forthcoming campaign. Trading Butler and starting over might be their best bet to contend with the elite teams in the East. On the other hand, Butler is also taking a chance by refusing to demand a trade from the Heat. Several insiders claim that instead of moving quickly to find a new home this year, the six-time All-Star is placing his money on himself as a free agent next year. His age and health are the two things standing in his way. Butler, who turns 35 in September, has missed 65 games in total in his previous three seasons at South Beach.
When Butler clarified in May why his team was unwilling to offer him a contract extension, Heat president Pat Riley questioned Butler’s stamina. Riley’s remarks suggested that the Heat would eventually acquire him. Rather, they are taking a chance on Butler, who is in his contract year, hoping for a spectacular season and to lead them back to the NBA Finals, as he has done twice before. Throughout the 2024–2025 season, keep a close eye on the Butler–Heat plot.