All-NBA Heat swingman Jimmy Butler has been the subject of some trade speculation this offseason after the six-time All-Star decided he would not extend with Miami 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. When he’s available, the 35-year-old superstar remains a productive two-way player as he prepares to enter his 14th season.
The 6’7″ forward averaged 20.8 points per game on encouragingly efficient .499/.414/.858 shooting splits last season, along with 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per night. 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:
- 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 point guard performs could go a long way toward determining 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. In a reader mailbag, Winderman wonders 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 Alec Burks, it appears the current plan (barring a major trade) is hoping for internal development and better health. Jaquez, still just 23, could be the best candidate to take a major leap.
- In case you missed it, the Heat are expected to keep their 15th and final open roster spot unoccupied heading into the regular season, and will thus be able to stay below the league’s second tax apron.
I wish I could get paid to rehash and blather like Ira does
Rockets get Butler
Heat get Whitmore, Eason and VanVleet
Salary perfectly match
You forgot to add Rockets entire front office is fired and ejected into the sun.
Obviously we all know that leaving the 15th spot open on a roster has been going on for a while now, but it sghocks me that the NBAPA hasn’t made a bigger deal about it. Most teams leave it open, so that’s anywhere between 15-25 spots that could all be paying a guaranteed salary if filled. The new apron rules are going to make that last stop even more likely than ever to be left open by a team.