Jimmy Butler’s future with the Miami Heat has emerged as a matter of some speculation, with one NBA insider entering a social media fray to defend a story he wrote that one fan described as “bulls—.”
Jimmy Butler could be let go by the Miami Heat. The 34-year-old attacker has played a crucial role in Miami’s recent achievements. He has made a name for himself in the NBA as one of the most dependable big-game players. But Butler’s ageing body and high contract demands might make it difficult for him to stay in South Beach much longer.
The Heat may try to let go of their star player in the offseason, according to NBC Sports expert Kurt Helin, but Butler is probably going to stay where he is.
“Despite what Pat Riley said at his press conference, there are rumblings from other teams that Miami could be open to parting ways with Jimmy Butler rather than extending him (although he most likely stays),” Helin wrote. “Getting back together
This season, Butler participated in 60 games during the Heat’s regular season. His average was 20.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. He made 41.4% of his three-point shots and 49.9% of his field goals. But because to an injury sustained during the play-in tournament, he was unable to play when the Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 playoffs’ first round.
The Heat may believe that this is the ideal time to try to recoup some assets and start retooling their squad given his advanced age and rising risk of injury. It would be prudent to rebuild around Bam Adebayo, which may pay off quickly in an Eastern Conference that is getting better every year. There would definitely be suitors interested in Butler throughout the league.
Butler, though, is probably going to stay in Miami—at least for the time being. His $146 million contract is set to expire in two more years. In the next season, he will make $48.7 million; if he exercises his player option for the 2025–2026 campaign, he would get $52.4 million. The majority of NBA teams will probably be hesitant to take on such a large budget charge, particularly for a 34-year-old who is
