Jimmy Butler’s championship window with the Miami Heat may have already closed. It’s time to have that conversation.
With 16 seconds left in Game 7 between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jimmy Butler took a pull-up 3 that would’ve sent the Heat to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
Jimmy missed and the Heat lost Game 7 on their home floor.
Instead of making a return to the NBA Finals, the Heat was sent into the offseason with the need of making some sort of splash deal. The current supporting cast around Jimmy didn’t step up when it was needed and after losing PJ Tucker to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency, Miami is left with going all-in on their chances of landing a big fish – Kevin Durant or Donovan Mitchell.
While that plan may seem like a good one, in theory, the problem with that is the Heat aren’t favorited to land either Durant or Mitchell at the moment. In fact, objectively speaking, they don’t have the necessary assets to even put together a competitive offer.
Entering the dog days of the offseason, the Heat is staring at running back next season without Tucker. For a team that will be up against an improved Eastern Conference, that doesn’t bode well for their chances at another NBA Finals run.
Even less so with a 37-year-old Kyle Lowry and another year of wear and tear on Jimmy’s body. So where does that leave the Heat?
Well, it leaves them having to make a decision – to continue to try to build a contender around Jimmy and (I guess) Lowry or pivot toward a potential Bam Adebayo build.
Looking at the East as a whole, there are many signs that point to the Heat coming to the conclusion that it may be time to pivot toward Bam’s build.
For one, the East is going to be stronger than this past season and the Heat took a step back (at least on paper). The Boston Celtics added Malcolm Brogdon, the Milwaukee Bucks will be healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to have a healthy James Harden and Joel Embiid, and they added De’Anthony Melton and Tucker.
The Toronto Raptors should also make strides based on Scottie Barnes’ individual development and whatever other moves they still have up their sleeves this offseason. The Atlanta Hawks also added Dejounte Murray and didn’t trade John Collins. Plus, let’s also not forget about the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks (with Donovan Mitchell?), and Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s difficult to envision how the Heat will improve or even remain atop the East with everything that has transpired this offseason. Jimmy may still be a great player this season, but it’s clear the Heat hasn’t been able to surround him with the elite talent that it takes for the Heat to be considered among the favorites in the league.
One of the worst mistakes that an organization can make is failing to realize that one build has closed and another needs to be jumpstarted. But it’s clear that the Heat doesn’t think that yet. That’s part of why the team is reportedly prioritizing trading for a 34-year-old Kevin Durant over a 25-year-old Donovan Mitchell.
Miami is still all-in on the Jimmy build. That’s been clear this offseason. Though, it’s fair to question it.
Even if you disagree with my assessment, there’s one thing that can’t be argued. It’s the fact that sooner or later, the Heat will have to pivot from a Jimmy build to a Bam build. I’d argue that we’ve already arrived at that moment.