For the Miami Heat, trading for Jimmy Butler would be more than just having a slightly higher ceiling for the 2018-19 season. It’s about next summer
As the sweepstakes for Jimmy Butler continues to heat up, acquiring the all-star shooting guard isn’t just about this season for a team like the Miami Heat, who is apparently one of the teams engaged in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Would acquiring Jimmy Butler enhance the Heat’s ceiling for the 2018-19 NBA season? Absolutely. Without him, they’re likely a playoff team but nothing more than just a first-round – second-round, if they’re lucky – exit team.
With Jimmy B, they’d be in the conversation to make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. After all, Jimmy B would be in the conversation for best player the conference would he move back to the East.
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However, with the way the Heat organization thinks, trading for Jimmy B wouldn’t just be about this season. Miami doesn’t play for Conference Finals appearances or Division titles, they play for Championships.
And while their team at the moment doesn’t resemble anything championship worthy, adding Jimmy Butler could be the first of many moves that gets this team closer to that level.
Trading for Jimmy Butler, no matter what it would cost (even Josh Richardson, who is a fine player but may never have the ceiling of a Jimmy B), would be a move that gets them closer to landing a bigger whale. Perhaps something like a Kyrie Irving next summer.
Jimmy Butler with the Heat’s remaining roster probably doesn’t scare any team in the Eastern Conference, much less the rest of the NBA. However, Jimmy Butler, plus Kyrie Irving, and then you’re building something interesting.
So while yawning at the Miami Heat potentially landing Jimmy Butler would likely be the reaction from across the NBA, just know that this move is likely the first of what Pat Riley and the Heat believe will be the road back to the NBA Finals. It’s never just about this season for this organization, and their pursuit of Jimmy Butler is no different.