Bam Adebayo was drafted by the Heat in 2017, two years before Jimmy Butler joined the team in free agency, but this is the first time since 2019 he hasn’t had the veteran forward as a teammate. Tyler Herro, a 2019 draftee, is experiencing life without Butler for the first time in his NBA career. It has been a challenging transition for both players, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
“It’s growing pains for us,” Adebayo said. “This is the first situation that’s it has really been just me and Tyler. I mean, obviously, the addition of (Andrew Wiggins), but we’re still trying to get Wiggs comfortable to where he can be fully himself. Right now, we’re keeping it simple for him and just kind of getting out of his way. But for me and Tyler, it’s more so understanding that we know how hard it is to win in this league. You can never take that for granted.”
Even though Butler was in and out of the lineup for weeks leading up to the trade deadline, the Heat have cratered since they officially sent him to Golden State. Miami was 25-24 when the February 6 deadline passed; since then, the club has dropped 14 of 18 contests, falling to nine games below .500 for the first time since the 2016/17 season.
While it’s hardly an ideal situation for the Heat, head coach Erik Spoelstra points out that it has been a good test for Adebayo and Herro as the team’s new leaders.
“With everything that has been going on, that part I’ve enjoyed watching — to see them grow into these roles,” Spoelstra said. “If you want to lead, these are the times. You have to be able to do it when the seas are a little bit rough, a little bit choppy. Anybody can lead when things are going great. Anybody can be a front-runner in those kinds of situations.
“But these guys, they’re about the right things. They want it so bad. They want everybody to play well and get this breakthrough. It starts with that and then everybody else filling in, as well. We say it all the time, it’s leadership at all levels. But those two guys have been around the longest. I think everybody is just kind of turning to them naturally.”
Here’s more on the slumping Heat:
- Saturday’s defeat at the hands of the Grizzlies extended the Heat’s losing streak to seven games, which Spoelstra referred to as “humbling,” per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The first four of those losses were by five points or less, but the past three have been by double-digits — Memphis won by 34 points on Saturday. “We are desperate to our souls to collectively figure out how to win one game,” Spoelstra said. “We focus on the process. In these moments, you have to stick to a process. We are trying to build necessary habits.”
- One post-deadline bright spot for the Heat has been the play of Davion Mitchell, who had 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in Friday’s loss to Boston. Acquired from Toronto last month, Mitchell has earned regular minutes in Miami’s backcourt and has acquitted himself well. “He made all of us watch him, right? He has that kind of gift, those kinds of abilities.” Spoelstra said after Friday’s game, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “He’s really dynamic, the way he can move laterally. And we just want to unlock all of that. Taking on all the big matchups, just making great efforts, we’re going to need that a bunch going down the stretch. But I was really pleased with his play.”
- In another story for The Miami Herald, Jackson examines what’s at stake in the final weeks of the season for six players whom the Heat will have to make decisions on soon, such as Duncan Robinson, whose 2025/26 salary is partially guaranteed, and Herro, who will become extension-eligible later this year.
- Within that same article, Jackson wonders if the Heat might consider the possibility of waiving Mitchell before the end of the season in the hopes that another team will claim him off waivers, which would allow Miami to duck below the luxury tax line. I can’t see that happening, even if the Heat don’t necessarily view the fourth-year guard as part of their future. There are very few teams that could realistically claim Mitchell’s $6.45MM expiring contract without creating their own tax-related problems, and he wouldn’t be playoff-eligible for a new club, limiting his appeal. If Mitchell were to go unclaimed in that hypothetical scenario, the Heat’s tax situation wouldn’t change and they would be giving up a key piece of their backcourt (and a possible offseason asset) for no reason.
Miami has lost 7 in a row? But but but, I thought Jimmy was the problem?
Also, Dub Nation fans who supported Wiggins while he pure mids, and then gave him his undeserving all-star appearance for being “pretty good” and profiting off Curry’s gravity: shame on you. He was always mid and never better than Harrison Barnes.
DaveyJ, why cast stones? Wiggins was a class act. Those who thought that Wiggins was as good or better than Butler have seen the light by now.
Wiggins is an over-average 3&D defender, a 3rd or 4th offensive option on a contending team, and worth exactly his $26M/yr deal. And a great teammate. Leave it there.
Also shows up and doesnt sink your boat with ego.
Every team can use those.
Obviously Davey does not know class like he knows ball.
He knows class with the exact same level that he knows ball…
And shows up? I like Andrew Wiggins and he did the best he could and gave 100%. I don’t knock him at all, though I wanted him out of town for three years.
But “showing up” is not something I put on Wiggins positive side of the ledger as an asset.
Though the reasons are legitimate just as an injury would be, he’s missed large chunks of seasons.
Andrew Wiggins has many tangible assets, but showing up at all costs is not one of them. I think in the playoffs three or four years ago he was also MIA because of his back.
As I said, understandable and legitimate, but “showing up” is not in his DNA. He shows up when everything is good.
Gary,
That stuff is all BJ… “Before Jimmy”
This is a new era, called AJA… “After Jimmy Arrived”.
Like Junior Bridgeman says, never be negative.
It’s all about winning and good vibes, brother.
Wiggins is superior in every non-basketball area…
Honeymoon period for Butler is ongoing… We’ll see if he’s healthy for the playoffs and then we’ll see if they make it out of the 2nd round…
Wiggins has been an iron man outside of his time spend away for personal reasons… And those reasons can be respected unlike Jimmy’s random childish turns…
I think Celibrini can keep him healthy. It helps too that since he is just going mega drive and kick machine he should put himself in less bad positions to get hurt for now. The question is if he can still summon playoff Jimmy and bring the 25-30PPG scorer if its needed. If you can count on Steph and Jimmy for 50-60 in a playoff game your cooking with gas since the defense seems legit.
Wiggins is a good guy but the only thing he’s better than Butler at is perimeter shooting.
Wiggins had his reasons to be away and I don’t fault him for them in the least but right after the playoffs started last season Butler was shown nothing but disrespect from the The Heat’s team president. From Riley telling him to basically shut up on social media to not even entertaining the idea of offering Butler an extension. Butler had every reason to want out.
And considering what he was going through in his personal life his struggles the previous seasons are totally understandable imo. These guys may get paid a lot of money but they are human beings.