This year’s Miami Heat flamed out swiftly in the NBA playoffs, falling to the top-seeded Boston Celtics in five games. This is in contrast to last season, when the team produced an incredible run to the NBA Finals as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, Jimmy Butler’s injury kept him out of the Heat’s first-round playoff series against Boston, so they weren’t playing at their best against Jayson Tatum and company.
It goes without saying that having their unchallenged leader off the court was a big disadvantage while playing the team that is undoubtedly the best in the East.
Kurt Helin of NBACentral reports that although Heat president Pat Riley previously stated the team has no intention of trading Butler, that may not be the case anymore as the organization may be considering moving the superstar instead of extending him.
There are whispers that Miami may be willing to let Jimmy Butler go rather than extend his contract, in contrast to what Pat Riley stated during his press conference. Joel Embiid and Butler getting back together might work, according to Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Although it’s not the best fit, he also mentions that DeMar DeRozan is a free agent, according to Helin.
Butler has the potential to be a game-changing player who transforms a team’s culture overnight, so if he’s available, the league will undoubtedly be interested in signing him.
Although joining the Philadelphia 76ers would be an intriguing option, the team is underfunded and most of its players will be eligible for NBA free agency this summer.
