Jimmy Butler faces an unsure future in Miami.
After the 2023-24 season, Warmth president Pat Riley mentioned the franchise was unsure about re-signing Butler to a contract extension, citing his latest harm historical past and age. Butler, 35, sat out all 5 video games of Miami’s first-round loss to Boston with a sprained MCL after lacking 100 regular-season video games over his 5 seasons in South Seashore.
With the 2 sides far aside on a brand new deal, a number of insiders have steered the probability of Butler opting out of his $52.4 million participant possibility for the 2025-26 season to enter free agency. As such, Butler and Warmth may very well be getting ready for a cut up, which may result in some tensions within the upcoming season.
In accordance with insider Tom Haberstroh, the state of affairs between Butler and the Warmth may get “ugly quick” if the franchise will get off to a shedding begin this yr. Talking on “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” Haberstroh likened Butler’s dynamic in Miami to his final yr in Chicago, which ended with him demanding a commerce.
“I do suppose that you just may get this sport of hen between Jimmy Butler and Pat Riley, two of essentially the most proud personalities, massive personalities,” Haberstroh mentioned. “I do really feel like Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler, if they don’t seem to be proper, it is gonna be ugly quick.”
Again in 2018, Butler was despatched from the Bulls to the Timberwolves after he demanded a trade and skipped coaching camp for the 2018-19 season. Whereas his state of affairs in Miami is not practically as turbulent — not but, at the very least — quite a bit may change over the subsequent few months as Erik Spoelstra and Co. put together for a brand new season.
Butler has already been linked to groups such because the Nets and Warriors as potential trade suitors. The six-time All-Star averaged 20.8 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists from 60 video games final season.
