Report: Jimmy Butler ‘Highly Motivated’ To Have Big Season For Heat

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Jimmy Butler is “highly motivated” to have a big 2024-25 season for the Miami Heat. 

Butler plans to become a free agent next offseason. 

Windhorst says Jimmy Butler is one of most intriguing players this season

“It’s fertile ground for Jimmy to have big year and get 1 final contract. Heat have shown in Riley years, they will move off of players when they think that it’s time”

(Via Hoop Collective) 🤔 pic.twitter.com/86pLCFCBIO

— Emo Jimmy (@HeatCulture13) September 3, 2024

Butler will make $48.8 million next season. The small forward has a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season. 

The Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Butler didn’t play because of a knee injury. 

A six-time All-Star, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks in 60 games last season while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.

Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He’s made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.

“Butler originally wanted an extension from the Heat this summer, but then changed his mind after Miami did not offer one,” NBA reporter Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald wrote. “He now intends to play out this season and not sign an extension with any team and will become a free agent in the summer of 2025. The Heat is not shopping Butler, according to a source.”

Butler joined the Heat in 2019. Miami lost in the 2020 Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, lost in the 2022 conference finals to the Celtics, lost in the 2023 Finals to the Denver Nuggets and lost in the first round this year to Boston. 

The Sixers and Houston Rockets were interested in trading for Butler this offseason, sources told Hoops Wire. The Heat, as expected, were not interested in trading Butler.