Heat Stuck In Tight Spot With Jimmy Butler, And Limited Trade Options

January 7, 2025

It’s been a rough stretch for the Miami Heat, and the Jimmy Butler situation is at the heart of it.

A year ago, when the Heat were at a crossroads, they could’ve made a move to offload Butler and reset, but they missed that window, wrote John Hollinger of The Athletic.

Now, here we are, and things have only gotten more complicated. Miami is stuck in a perfect storm of bad timing and poor financial flexibility.

At 35 years old, Butler has a $52 million player option for next season — but even with his playoff heroics, he’s no longer the $52 million player Miami once thought he was. His ability to stay on the floor is a growing concern, and that number becomes even more problematic as he continues to miss games.

And if he opts out of that deal, he’s a rental player — and who’s willing to pay top dollar for a rental in his 14th season?

The Heat’s cap situation makes matters worse. They’re so deep into the tax that they’re practically handcuffed. Miami can’t even get real cap relief if Butler walks because of the way their roster is constructed.

Trading him is the best option for a reset, but the trade market for star players has never been worse. Between apron restrictions and the complexity of Butler’s situation, there’s no easy path forward for the Heat.

Then, there’s the Terry Rozier deal. Trading a future first for Rozier, who’s had his struggles and is locked into a hefty $26.6 million for next season, looks like a mistake.

Combine that with Duncan Robinson‘s ineffective $19 million-a-year contract, and the Heat’s future suddenly feels a lot more uncertain. To add to the stress, Bam Adebayo’s looming extension is starting to look like a gamble too, especially with Miami not seeming to fully maximize his skillset at the moment.

So, what’s Miami’s best move? If there’s a trade that could make sense for both sides, it might be sending Butler and Kevin Love to Sacramento for DeMar DeRozan, Trey Lyles, and Kevin Huerter, Hollinger wrote.

This trade doesn’t involve picks, and it gives the Heat cap relief while still giving them a chance to compete this season. The Kings could sell their fanbase on a move that brings in Butler, and it could be a fresh start for them with a star they can build around.

But, let’s be real — that’s probably not happening anytime soon. The Kings aren’t likely to make that move until they’ve explored all other options, and the rest of the league doesn’t appear eager to take on Butler’s contract. So, we’re left in a bit of a holding pattern.

Miami’s front office made a big bet by not moving Butler earlier, and now they may have to live with the consequences. Other teams could circle back closer at the trade deadline, but don’t expect the Heat to pull the trigger on anything major before then.

In the end, unless something unexpected changes, the Heat might be stuck with this Butler problem a little longer than they’d like. The window for a clean exit has closed, and Miami might have to be patient as they wait for their next move — if there’s even a good one to make.