Last season, the Miami Heat lost their first-round series 4-1 to long-time rival and eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics. However, an NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the Heat star Jimmy Butler has something to prove and will lead the Heat to a comeback next season.
Additionally, Windhorst believed the Heat star’s contract situation with the team might have something to do with his willingness to move past last season’s disappointment.
“Jimmy Butler, very motivated to be a free agent, I think he’s a different animal,” he said. said on ESPN.
Outlook for heat
The 34-year-old Butler did not sign a contract extension He signed with the Heat, but he has a player option for the 2025-26 season. He could opt out of his contract after next season to become an unrestricted free agent, and NBA teams will be rushing to acquire him because he is a proven leader and a strong playoff performer. However, his play in 2025 could affect how many teams will actually pay him what he wants if he tests the market, hence Windhorst’s comment.
On the other hand, the Heat might want to retain his services after he led them to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023. However, the team just didn’t have much luck, health-wise, to survive the tough playoff grind. Tyler Herro was out of the lineup in 2023 while Butler and Terry Rozier went down in 2024.
Yet when the Heat have their pieces together and healthy, they are still a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference, especially with Bam Adebayo, defensive pillar and a Jimmy Butler who has something to prove.
Brian Windhorst also agreed.
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“I’m basically saying that you have to buy [the Heat] “Because Jimmy Butler is going to be, I think, very motivated. Sometimes it feels like Jimmy is looking for reasons not to play. And that might be the situation that prevails, but I think Jimmy is going to be in killer mode trying to prove himself to the Heat and everybody else in the league,” the NBA insider said.
Will the Heat rehire Butler?
If six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler follows through on Windhorst’s comments next season, he will have earned a substantial new contract with the Heat or another team.
Butler had disagreements with Pat Rileybut if he gets them back to the promised land, he might persuade management to pay him his money. If not, he might be able to pick up the bag of another team that has the money to spend.
