Although the Heat are reportedly open to listening to trade of six-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler for the first time this year, The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson (Twitter link) argues that pushing any decision on a move to the offseason could be the best way for the club to enact maximal value.
Butler, 35, has a $52.4MM player option for 2025/26 with Miami. Even in his 14th season and with plenty of playoff mileage, the 6’7″ forward is still a lethal player on both ends of the hardwood. He’s helped lead Miami to a 13-10 record on the year.
Through 18 healthy contests, the five-time All-NBA honoree is averaging 18.6 points on .550/.360/.778 shooting splits, along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. If he can avoid major injury, Butler seems well on his way to racking up more All-Star and All-NBA accolades this year, regardless of which team is paying him.
There’s more out of Miami:
- Just after being re-inserted into the Heat’s lineup, third-year Miami forward Nikola Jovic suffered a left ankle sprain in a Saturday team practice, reports Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). It’s unclear how much time, if any, he is expected to miss. Through 15 games, including eight starts, the 6’10” big man is averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals.
- The Heat are expected to wait a full 14 days to add a 14th man to their roster following their trade of now-former reserve center Thomas Bryant to the Pacers, Chiang reports in another piece. Chiang notes that Miami may opt to upgrade one of its two-way players to a standard roster spot, with guard Dru Smith being the likeliest contender.
- Heat reserve swingman Josh Richardson missed the club’s latest practice with his lingering left heel injury, while guard Pelle Larsson did limited work on the side, reports Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (via Twitter). Larsson is recuperating from a sprained ankle, which has kept him unavailable since December 4. Richardson, 31, has appeared in a scant eight contests for Miami this season. He’s been on the shelf since mid-November.
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