The offseason rumor mill is already churning for the 22 NBA teams on summer vacation. Stars such as Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell have been tossed into the trade machine, but one piece of news that’s taken a backseat to those bigger names has been the Jimmy Butler trade speculation.
Butler watched his Miami Heat team bow out of the postseason at the hands of the Boston Celtics from the bench after suffering an MCL injury in the play-in tournament. The 34-year-old has one year left on his current contract and a $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season but has already made it known he wants a two-year max extension to stay in Miami, which would be worth $113 million.
Would a then-36-year-old Butler be worth that kind of money? Perhaps more importantly, would the Heat be willing to pay it or would the team consider trading him this offseason and moving forward with a younger core?
Miami Heat president Pat Riley weighs in on Jimmy Butler trade rumors
Riley, who’s led the franchise from the front office since 2008, was asked about his star forward’s recent comments directed toward the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks as well as his thoughts on Butler’s future in Miami.
Riley had typically blunt answers for both questions. On the first:
On the subject of whether or not Butler will be traded, Riley gave a definitive “No.” He wasn’t as unambiguous when asked about a potential Butler extension, though, per ESPN:
That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night. That’s the truth.
If the best ability is availability, Butler doesn’t have it. He’s been one of the league’s most productive players, but he’s also missed more than a quarter of his regular-season games since joining the Heat. He’s been one of the most clutch playoff performers of the last decade, but at some point age and injuries have to catch up with Butler and it won’t be as easy to flip the switch.
And the former Marquette star has a checkered history when it comes to using his leverage as an unhappy superstar. Does that change inside the bubble of the famous Heat Culture?
Butler’s status in Miami may seem comparatively less important now, but he would be a helpful player to the right franchise under the right circumstances. According to Riley, the veteran’s future is tied to his ability to stay on the floor, not glued to the bench.
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