Could Jimmy Butler, Heat be headed for a split?
Dec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles the ball up the court against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Butler has spent the past five seasons with the Miami Heat but that era could soon be coming to an end.
Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports that Butler is expected to seek a max two-year extension worth $113 million after the final two years of his current deal expire. That would keep him with the Heat until he turns 37.
Miami could go down that road if they believe their core of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are still good enough to bear fruit but there are apparently some issues brewing.
Butler’s personality — specifically, his individualism — has begun to rub some in the organization the wrong way and David Aldridge of The Athletic reports that Miami could be at the “tipping point.”
“The Heat, when healthy, remain formidable, and Butler is worth the trouble,” Aldridge writes.
“But there have been murmurings this year that Butler and the Heat may no longer be singing from the same hymnal. Butler, famously, does things his way, and Miami’s organization, famously, does not brook much individualism.”
For now, the Heat have no known plans to trade Butler but may not be keen on any sort of extension, either. And if the two sides clash over his desire for a max contract, Miami may have no other choice but to pull the trigger and send Butler packing.
