Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler may be softening his stance about playing out the rest of his current contract before signing a new deal.
On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast (starts at 21:00 mark), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Butler “wants to be in Miami” and has a goal of getting another contract from the Heat.
“A few things on the Heat,” Windhorst said. “One, as far as I know, I think Jimmy Butler wants to be in Miami. His goal is to get another contract from the Heat. He also, I think, has a player option in his contract. Which, I think, his intention is to probably waive and become a free agent. But he still has that out there.”
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon added additional perspective, saying: “Maybe Jimmy follows through on what he says, like, ‘Hey, contract year, this is a prove-it type of year for me,’ and he’s all business. No one questions his ability to play the game and impact winning when he’s on the floor. But if you talk to people around the league and say, ‘Who’s the next big-name or star-caliber player who gets traded?’ there are at least some eyes on Jimmy Butler.”
There seemed to be some disconnect between Butler and the Heat in the wake of the team’s first-round playoff loss to the Boston Celtics at the end of last season.
Butler, who didn’t play in the series due to a knee injury, told Rock the Bells that the Celtics “would be at home” if he had been healthy.
Heat president Pat Riley addressed that comment in a very blunt manner during his end-of-season press conference: “If you’re not on the court playing, you should keep your mouth shut.”
As trade rumblings popped up involving Butler over the summer, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the six-time All-Star won’t sign an extension with the Heat or any other team before his opt-out after the 2024-25 season.
Butler is owed $48.8 million this season with a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26. He is currently eligible to either sign a one-year, $58.6 million extension that would keep his 2025-26 option intact or a two-year, $112.9 million extension that would void the 2025-26 option, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The Heat are currently $1.2 million under the second apron this season and $12.1 million under the second apron in 2025-26 with Butler’s option factored in, per Spotrac,
Even though Butler is still a terrific player, his age and durability concerns might make the Heat reluctant to offer him a full max deal. He just turned 35 on Sept. 14 and has missed 100 games during his first five seasons in Miami.
Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in 60 starts last season. The Heat finished 46-36 and earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs by defeating the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament game.
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