They almost have to make some sort of trade soon, or they’re essentially punting on Jimmy Butler’s prime. The big question for the Heat is what type of trade they should pursue next.

Another superstar possibility emerges for the Miami Heat

History would suggest that the Heat like to wait for superstar opportunities. However, after missing out on two chances to pull that off this past offseason, you can’t help but wonder if that should continue to be the blueprint moving forward for the franchise.

Waiting for the next superstar could take some time. Realistically speaking, Donovan Mitchell may be the next superstar to be traded. Even then, he’s likely 1-2 years away from hitting the market. At best, he could end up being shopped next summer. Waiting that long is certainly not in the best interest of Butler, and it could cause even more damage to the Heat’s plans.

Ultimately, if the Heat are committed to Jimmy, they may not have the luxury of waiting for the next superstar to hit the open market. They may have to be proactive now. Jimmy can opt out of his contract with the Heat after next season. After this season, he’s more than likely going to demand a contract extension from the team. And an expensive one.

The time for Miami to make a decision on its future is now. And if they do want to continue to build around Jimmy, they have to make a trade soon. But Miami might’ve already made their decision this past offseason. Whether it was their decision or not, the Heat missed on Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard.

On both fronts, it’s been reported that the Heat weren’t as aggressive as they probably should’ve been if they were serious about landing either player.

Whether they’re willing to admit it or not, the Heat aren’t in the whale-hunting business anymore. They don’t have the assets to pull off a deal, and they aren’t aggressive enough with the little assets that they do have. That’s a recipe for mediocrity, which the Heat find themselves in at the moment.