Player availability – or lack thereof – was a focus for Pat Riley during the Heat president’s annual end-of-season press conference, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Riley repeatedly brought up the fact that Miami needs to have its best players available more often and made it clear that figuring out how to improve on that front will be a goal this offseason.
“That’s a deep dive for us this summer, player availability,” Riley said. “We must change some things but we aren’t going to rip anything apart.”
Riley’s most noteworthy comments on the subject came when he was asked about the possibility of a contract extension for Jimmy Butler. The star swingman is expected to look to tack on another year to his current deal, which runs through 2024/25 with a player option for ’25/26. But Riley said the team has yet to internally discuss that possibility and wouldn’t commit to giving Butler a new contract if he asks for one, pointing out that the front office doesn’t need to make that decision before 2025.
“It’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources, unless you have someone who is going to be available every night,” Riley said (Twitter link via Jackson), adding that Butler’s availability was “discussed thoroughly” a year ago with his agent. The 34-year-old hasn’t appeared in more than 64 regular season games in a single season during his five years in Miami and was unavailable for the playoffs this spring due to an MCL sprain.
Amid recent speculation that Butler’s days in Miami could be numbered, Riley offered an even more eyebrow-raising quote when asked about the six-time All-Star’s claim that the Celtics and Knicks would “be at home” if he had been able to play in the postseason. Riley admitted he didn’t know whether Butler was “trolling” or serious, but suggested he shouldn’t have said anything either way.
“If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut on the criticism of those teams,” Riley said (Twitter link via Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald).
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Asked if Miami would consider trading Butler if their other non-Bam Adebayo assets aren’t enough to acquire a star player, Riley said no, adding that the goal isn’t necessarily to add a third star. “There are a possibility a lot of things are on the table,” Riley said, per Jackson. “It’s not about getting another star. You get another star, your bench gets weaker.”
- Riley was noncommittal when asked if the Heat would like to cut payroll this summer, acknowledging that the team will have to look at the “collateral damage” of operating over the first or second tax apron. However, he stressed that he doesn’t anticipate major changes and that the organization “is not about rebuilding.” “We’ve got a really good group of guys,” he said. “The No. 1 issue is player availability and having your guys healthy to play every night. We have to wrap our arms around that notion. When I talk to (Heat owners) Micky (Arison) and Nick (Arison), they understand this.”
- Riley doesn’t necessarily agree with Udonis Haslem‘s opinion that Tyler Herro would be better off as a sixth man, noting that Haslem – a Heat employee – probably shouldn’t have shared that take on an ESPN broadcast. “Tyler is a starter,” Riley said, according to Jackson. “Is (coming off the bench) something you are going to ask a player one day? That’s where a coach has a job to do. … Whether it be (Herro or someone else), he may. Whatever is in the best interests of the team. We won’t know until we have everybody available.”
- Addressing the neck injury that sidelined Terry Rozier for the playoffs, Riley said it shouldn’t be a long-term issue and added that the veteran guard was “everything I expected” after arriving in Miami from Charlotte. “It’s a process; it takes time. He said he feels good,” Riley said. “When you’re dealing with a spine, you’re not going to mess around with it. It’s going to heal. Doctors convinced us and him that in time it will heal and go away.”
This is why heat are in it every year
Buckets wasn’t talking about losing to the daknicks in a Miami uniform.Jimmy Butler wants to be in Philly.
Ok
Butler will be 35 years old when next season starts and yeah he had a run for the ages in last year’s playoffs, but misses 25-30 games every season and that trend is not going to get better. At one point, you have to stop handing out these crippling max contracts to 30+ year old players who you very well know will not get any better then they currently are, and are more and more injury prone every year. See Beal for example. I don’t think the likes of Butler, Paul George, or Klay Thompson, just to name a few that are demanding max contracts this summer, deserve one in their current state. But some team will give them one anyway, so there’s that.
Well said Dave and I don’t disagree ;
To play Devils Avocado tho a team like Philly Det or Orl would STILL probably be better suited w Paul George than the buncha rif ~raft otherwise this offseason in free agency .
Yeah, I wouldn’t put George in the same conversation with Klay Thompson, that’s for sure.
Devil’s Avocado sounds like an underground band name, lol.
He must be a vegan.
Agreed. Butler is under contract for next season plus a player option in 25/26. Why do the Heat have to do anything? Teams shouldn’t flinch when the older players try to get pushy for new contracts. Look at the contract situations for the Clippers, Suns, Warriors plus Damion Lillard’s contract. All the money to aging superstars and out of the playoffs already.
Yay Heat culture?
Josh Richardson being here allows for Herro to be used as a starter now, but, now they have to replace Caleb as well. When certain people aren’t available though, UD was right that the team was better with him off the bench, but Riley is correct suggesting he shouldn’t have said it, considering he is technically in the front office now, and that effects Herro’s perceived value
I hope this isn’t the end for Duncan Robinson with the Heat, but he may finally have to be included in salary matching in some sort of deal with Rozier/Herro and Jovic, if someone like Kevon Durant, or some other wing/4 option is available in a trade. Otherwise, I don’t really see available trades for them to make, and I especially don’t want to see some kind of a deal for a guard. The Kyle-Rozier deal really, really hurts the outlook, in multiple ways, but it is what it is at this point
Rozier looked every bit what I suggested he would when the trade was made, and I knew Heat fans would love him in this uniform. I’ve had an affinity for hom for a really long time, but I just didn’t like the fit…that being said, when 1 or 2 guys are injured, it generally works, so I’m interested to see how he evolves moving forward, assuming he isn’t traded. Having multiple guards that need the ball in their hands is more reminiscent of Jimmy’s first year here, when Herro and Nunn were rookies, and they had Goran starting. Definitely brings back a lot of the issues Kyle alleviated, but hopefully they can retain Delon Wright to help with some of those things
The only way the Heat get under the tax is to trade away a contract for nothing or trade Jimmy for lesser contracts.
Duncan is a 19M contract via trade but in reality a 30M if treated as expiring. Bc 10M guaranteed in the last year.
Heat will do what they do, find some gem.
There wasn’t a team more affected by the new CBA than Mia last year. Found the lack of grace period to roll in a little drastic and irresponsible by Silver
Agree they’ll still have it be a thorn next year per where they stand today as well
Jimmy big mad right now.
Jimmy has no leverage with all the games he’s missed, his age and the amount of money he is earning considering he only has played an average of 58 games a year for the last 5 seasons.
It will be interesting to see what stand MIA (Riley) actually takes with Butler. Their hand isn’t a particularly strong one, as this roster, even with its other high priced pieces, can’t contend without Butler. Swapping him out for another 50 mm a year guy (in 1, 2 or 3 trades) makes sense on message boards, but it’s hard to see anything like that making sense for all the parties (teams and players) involved.
Simple fact is Butler is a superstar when he’s healthy, and in a league with a dearth of impact talent, that means he’s got the pricing power of a superstar, unqualified.
The other simple fact is if they give Butler too much money and years at his age they’re screwed. He’s 35 in a couple months and as the article states has a horrible record of staying on the court.
True. So, we’ll see which “simple fact” will carry the day in the contract discussions. I know where I’m placing my bet.
Butler is prickly and a PITA. MIA is attractive place to play. Yet, in this league, at this time, Butler is the one with better alternatives if there is a standoff in the “battle of the simple facts” – not because he necessarily has great alternatives, they’re just better than MIA’s. IMO anyway. We’ll see.
He’s a old superstar, who misses a lot of games and is on his last legs. Any contract that is not team friendly, is a BIG MISTAKE.
Riles will always be the Godfather.
Keeping the old tested, no BS ways alive for all these millennials to gawk at.
What other NBA team does the president literally tells his star player to STFU. Lol.
Pat Riley didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. Jimmy was selling coffee at $20 a cup during the bubble playoffs. I think he’s made enough money and shouldn’t be demanding anything at his age and his health history the last few years. Missed 100 games since joining the Heat.