NBA: Grading the notable moves from the first day of free agency

Butler and the Heat ink a 4-year maximum extension worth $184M

Grade: F

Lost in the news of the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade, I was personally shocked by this news.

The more I look at this contract the less I like it. Butler’s extension will kick in next year at 33 years old, many years past a player’s prime age of production. He will be making over $51 million at age 36! ($51,646,000).

I’m not sure how gracefully Butler will age as an NBA player. He shot 24 percent from 3 and played abysmally in the postseason last year, potentially showing some early signs of decline. He’s also one of the hardest workers in the NBA and constantly putting wear and tear on his body.

Playing for Tom Thibodeau, a coach known for overworking his starters, for six years in Chicago doesn’t help either. Former All-Stars and Bulls starters Luol Deng and Joakim Noah had a sharp decline after playing for Thibodeau. With Butler turning 32 in September, the question is: When will it all come crashing down?

The Heat could’ve waited a year to sign this contract. Instead, they doubled down on their core. And as much as I want to see Butler succeed, Miami may live to regret this contract in a few years.