Heat star Jimmy Butler is eligible for a contract extension this summer, and according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, it’s likely he will seek a four-year, maximum-salary deal worth $181MM. The 32-year old wing is currently under contract through the 2022/23 season, but a four-year extension would align his contract with star center Bam Adebayo‘s recently-signed max extension, as both would expire following the 2025/26 season. Such an extension would pay Butler $50MM in 2025/26, when he’d be 36 years old.
Following a disappointing first round sweep at the hands of the Bucks, the Heat will be looking to add to their roster this summer. When asked if he would be taking a role in roster decisions, Butler said: “I don’t know. I’ve got to be active… Me myself, Bam, hell probably Tyler (Herro), some other guys, as well — they’re going to ask and we have to be honest. But at the end of the day, that’s not our job either.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- With the Tokyo Olypmics postponed until this summer, several Heat players will have important decisions to make, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Precious Achiuwa and Gabe Vincent are both potential members of the Nigerian national team, while Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo are in the player pool for the U.S. team and Omer Yurtseven is likely to represent Turkey. But with a short training camp this season, the possibility of missing out on yet another summer of training with the Heat represents a major decision, especially for young players such as Achiuwa and Vincent. The choice between Summer League and representing his nation in the Olympics is one Achiuwa isn’t rushing. “Right now,” he says, “I have time on my hands to kind of just weigh my options and see where I go from there.”
- Not only do the Heat not have a pick in this year’s draft, but they have the fewest tradable future picks of any team in the NBA, notes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. As a result of trades for players such as Butler, Goran Dragic, and Victor Oladipo, a 2024 second-round pick is the only draft asset they have that’s available to be traded over the next seven drafts.
- In a Q&A for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ira Winderman explains why Adebayo and Butler should be considered untouchable in trades, details the fallacy of the “Leastern Conference” idea, and discusses whether adding a three point shot should be the primary focus of Adebayo’s summer.
- With the 2020/21 season in the rearview mirror, Winderman graded each team member’s performance, as well as sharing his thoughts for their futures in Dade County. In regards to Duncan Robinson‘s impending restricted free agency, Winderman views $15MM per season as a reasonable cutoff point.
Good for Jimmy Buckets…awww I remember when Thibs wouldn’t even play him!
Duncan Robinson can demand 4 years $80 million, compare to Bertans
Derrick Rose can demand 1 year deal $20 million or 2 years deal $30 million
And the Heat’s first round pick in 2022 will almost certainly be swapped for Brooklyn’s (Houston has swap rights plus the Nets pick).
I don’t understand how Wall, Kemba, Love contracts are out there and someone is gonna pay Jimmy Butler 50M a year. Good luck moving that a year from now.
50 mil salary in 2025 but it will be even worse to get rid of IF the Heat need to do so by then.
I wish him only the best but the numbers are against him
Eventually the league is going to have to address it. The point of the max salary was to keep contracts in line.
Yet in most cases it’s 30 somethings getting deals that kill their teams cap. And the teams basically have no choice but to give the guy the deal or do the Danny Ainge special and let the guy walk for nothing.
I know this may not be a popular idea but I wouldn’t mind seeing the Heat sign Tim Hardaway Jr over Duncan. Robinsons three point shooting average may be slightly better but THJ offers more in terms of an all around game and would be highly motivated. Standing pat will not be enough to challenge the East top teams.
Miami will figure out a way to get Dame. Miami always ends up with someone. I don’t think THJ is leaving Dallas unless they get someone even better with Luca
Dame with the Heat would be perfect and an amazing fit.
It’s easier for a team to re-sign its own players with bird rights than going after free agents from other teams. Bird rights allow teams to go over the salary cap to retain their own players. Releasing Iggy wouldn’t give them enough cap space to sign Hardway, they would need to release Dragic too.
Butler’s game should age well enough, but no one wants to be obligated to pay a 36 year old NBA player $50 million. Gotta think Riley will push the envelope and talk to Jimmy about a discount under the guise of “what’s best for the team,” or whatever.
miami trading for Oladipo was a stupid move lol
How? What did they give up – a late 1st for a slightly later 1st? What if they sign and trade him this offseason for an asset? What if they get him back at a discount and he’s a big piece for them? What if they get nothing, but avoid extending an offer to a player they actually might not want anymore?