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Jimmy Butler, Heat on the Outs; A Trio to Build Around in Miami?

Writer's picture: Jake CJake C

With his latest indefinite suspension from the Miami Heat, it is just a matter of time before Jimmy Butler is out of south beach and donning another uniform. Suns, perhaps?


Without Butler on Monday night, the Heat put together an impressive home performance in a double-overtime win against their in-state rival Orlando Magic to stay above the .500 mark (23-22). The Heat outscored the Magic a combined 46-31 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Franz Wagner’s 29 points and 8 rebounds (10-for-25) led the Magic. The Magic are 7th in the eastern conference with a 24-24 record, a half-game behind the Heat.


Tyler Herro put up 30 points and had a near triple-double (12 assists, 8 rebounds), on 12-for-28 from the field while making 4-of-15 attempts from deep. Bam Adebayo was 10-for-15 with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Kel’el Ware had 19 points and 10 rebounds on 7-for-8 while hitting on all four of his attempts from downtown. Herro played 48 minutes, Adebayo 44, Ware 43.


Particularly impressive is the 20-year-old rookie Ware from Indiana. The 7-footer is a long, rangy athlete who can shoot and block shots. Important, too, is that he allows Adebayo to play his more natural fit at the four.  


Butler and the Heat’s honeymoon phase is over and their relationship is headed for an inevitable end. Surely, things started getting rocky when Heat president Pat Riley responded to a reporter’s question back in May regarding Butler - who was injured in the Heat’s play-in game against the 76ers and said that if he’d been healthy, the Heat would have beat the Boston Celtics in the first round (the 8th-seeded Heat lost the series in five) - by saying “is that Jimmy trolling, or is that Jimmy serious? If you’re not on the court playing against Boston, or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.” 


As the season has gone on and the relationship fabric has become frayed, there seems to be a Butler allegiance and Riley allegiance. Riley is doing what is best for the club (a contract extension for an aging all-star who hasn’t topped 64 games in the last eight seasons does not seem like a smart decision). Butler, on the other hand, feels that he is worth a particular something and that his efforts over the years as a Heat star, namely leading the team to two Finals’ appearances as underdogs, should be rewarded. 


Business is business though, and the Heat clearly are not budging on their stance. Butler’s $48.8 million salary ($52.4 million player option for next season) is a steep one, and as the long-rumored suitor for his services are the Suns (Butler has said he does not want to go to the Memphis Grizzlies), it would mean that former all-star Bradley Beal’s $50.2 million could be headed to Miami. 


Beal does have a no-trade clause, which makes for an interesting wrinkle. In a hypothetical though, it would make for a solid deal for the Heat. Both sides, really, as the Suns would be getting an intangible all-star who can fit ideally next to Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.


Herro turned 25 last week. Adebayo will be 28 in July. Ware is 20. If you’re the Heat, that trio is part of your future building block. Ware has proven untouchable with his performances in big minutes this season. Though only averaging 8.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, the 15th-overall pick in 2024 has four double-doubles and has reached 25 points twice. Riley has been loyal to Herro, when rumors and thoughts that the Heat should land a bigger name to go with Butler and Adebayo (Damian Lillard, for one, James Harden for two) took hold in the last couple seasons before Lillard was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks. Fans on Butler’s side will argue that the lack of a contract renewal has made Butler rightfully indifferent to the organization, hence wanting out.


Beal, who will be 32 at the end of this season, is averaging 16.9 points on 48 percent this season in 32 games (23 starts). He has another season under his current deal before a player option for 2026-27. If a deal between Phoenix and Miami were to go down, Beal would be part of the swap. Herro is a playmaker who can shoot it, Adebayo, a 3-time all-star and 5-time all-defensive team member, is one of the game’s top forward-centers with a soft jump shot, athleticism and defensive prowess despite being somewhat undersized (listed at 6’9, 255) to play the five. Ware is just scratching the surface. Nikola Jovic, 21, is another young piece, 6'10 with range.


Whether it is Beal or someone else coming in, Butler will be dealt in a matter of time. 


And when he is, Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra will still have good pieces to work with moving forward. 

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