All-NBA Heat swingman Jimmy Butler has long been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, after it was determined that Miami would not extend the six-time All-Star this summer.
As Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel writes (subscriber-exclusive link), Heat fans may need to press pause on any possible trade chatter and embrace the moment. The 35-year-old superstar remains a productive two-way player well into his NBA dotage, when he is available.
The 6’7″ small forward averaged 20.8 points on encouragingly efficient .499/.414/.858 shooting splits last season, plus 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals. The flip-side of that productivity, however, is that Butler was only healthy for 60 contests and missed the entire playoffs with an MCL sprain.
There’s more out of South Beach:
- Heat point guard Terry Rozier impressed when he was able to take the floor for Miami last year, but injuries limited his availability and ultimately sidelined him completely for the playoffs. How the veteran performs could eventually dictate just how much this Heat team can achieve in 2024/25, writes Winderman in a separate piece. “It sucks the way it ended last year for me, not being able to play in the playoffs,” Rozier noted. “So it’s a fresh start. You get to be around the guys for a full season, be around the coaches for a full season, learn the plays and really just get that camaraderie with the other guys.” The Heat acquired Rozier from the Hornets in January.
- During his 2023/24 rookie season, Heat small forward Jaime Jaquez quickly outplayed his draft standing. The former UCLA All-American was recognized for his output with a no-brainer All-Rookie First Team finish. Winderman wonders in a reader mailbag if Jaquez could be due for more minutes and touches this year. After a capped-out Miami failed to make many new free agent rotation-level additions beyond ue, it appears the current plan (barring a major trade) is hoping for internal development and better health. Jaquez, still just 23, could be the likeliest candidate to take a major leap.
I wish I could get paid to rehash and blather like Ira does