The Miami Heat may not have any option other than to trade Jimmy Butler after his most recent antics.
After playing six seasons in South Beach with the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler has strongly expressed a desire to be traded after a very successful tenure with the organization. He was able to lead the Heat to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances and advanced to the NBA Finals twice.
For anyone who has watched him over the years, Butler is a player who can elevate his level of play when his team needs him most. This was put on display during those runs to the Finals. To put it into contrast, Butler's averages in the Finals were 24.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 11 games compared to his regular season averages of 21.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 312 career games.
A lot of critics felt that Butler deserved an extension due to the fact that he led the team to the Finals not once, but twice. Just to be able to remain healthy and to be able to navigate through the NBA postseason is difficult enough within itself and Butler has indeed made the Heat legitimate contenders since his arrival. It's a point worth making about how he helped the team advance to 2 Finals appearances within the past 5 seasons and is largely responsible for the team remaining a relevant franchise after the retirement of Dwayne Wade.
However, the Heat organization is seeing things differently as they live by their mantra and abide by the "Heat Culture." No one individual is bigger than the team itself, and the Heat has proven over the years that they are willing to part ways with players with the overall condition of the team taken into consideration first and foremost.
Even without Butler the Heat still field a championship-caliber roster. They have two all-star caliber players they can rely on in Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Leading the team in both scoring (24 ppg) and assists (5.2 APG) Herro appears ready to assume the lead role and the team's top option on offense. He has always possessed the skills to produce these types of numbers, but unfortunately, injuries to him and other key players have made it difficult to establish any kind of rhythm or camaraderie.
The difference between his current level of play and how he has performed during previous seasons is quite obvious. Herro is finishing better at the rim, he has learned how to position himself to get to the foul line easier, he has become a much better passer and it appears that he has added range to his 3-point shot.
Now, with a few seasons of experience under his belt, Herro seems mature enough and understands how to manipulate defenses, and is starting to take full advantage. The skills are largely the same but there is a clear improvement in how he now approaches the game. He's become much better at picking his spots, has kept his composure under pressure and whenever he's double-teamed, being effective playing out of the pick-and-roll and the refinement of his overall game has helped him improve dramatically.
Ever since Adebayo arrived in Miami, he has served as the team's defensive force and has become a franchise cornerstone, but there have been instances when more was desired from him. Adebayo has been consistent throughout his career for the most part and has career averages of 15.4 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. He has come through in big games and whenever the team has leaned on him, but it always seems like he could become a much better player individually.
That is the reason why Adebayo fits perfectly with this team. He understands his role within the team's dynamics, even though it seems his importance is underplayed and taken for granted at times. You won't find too many players who are as unselfish and willing to sacrifice individual success for the good of their team but Adebayo knows how to turn it up a notch whenever his team needs him.
Everyone knows the kind of talent Butler has. He could become an attractive asset on the trade market but the Heat could leverage the situation in their favor. If the Heat are able to acquire another player who can fit right in with Herro and Adebayo and become the x-factor they will definitely need in the postseason, they could very well become a formidable threat to win the East.
The Heat currently own the 6th seed and the team will most likely try to avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament if they can help it. The Heat are dead last in the league in blocks per game and they could really use a rim protector to help Adebayo patrol the lane.
How the Miami Heat can pivot away from Jimmy Butler
Robert Williams III is a likely candidate, and when he's healthy and at his best, he can make a team's interior defense much improved. He doesn't provide too much on the offensive end in terms of scoring but the impact he has on the defensive end can change the momentum of a game. His long arms combined with his extraordinary jumping ability and flexibility make it difficult for opponents to score on him as he could wind up becoming a legit defensive force if the Heat can acquire him.
Another player who could be on the Heat's radar is Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. With a backcourt of Herro and Terry Rozier, the Heat lack a traditional point guard who is capable of running an offense and Fox would solidify that spot. It's also not a good look that Herro is leading the team in assists while having to leverage scoring responsibilities. Even though he has improved that aspect of his game, the team would be better served with a point guard who can set him up to catch and shoot and allow him to get to their spots. The only thing that may halt that trade would be Butler's unwillingness to play for a team not in contention for a title this late in his career as the Kings are currently 15-19 and in the 12th spot in the Western Conference.
The Heat appear to be on a timeline with Herro and Adebayo and Pat Riley understands that he has 2 players who he can build a solid foundation around. Realistically, the organization is not going to pay a player for what he has done in the past or what he is known for and then have to make sure the rest of the core players are paid and also have to break the bank for other players to come in and provide help. It just doesn't make sense to pay an aging superstar that kind of money, especially a player who is past his prime.
Riley's logic is understandable because if they give in to what Butler is asking, it could set the franchise back if it all fails. Also, Butler is in his mid-30s and has proven to be injury-prone. Sad to say, this version of Butler is just not worth the money he is requesting. He could still go to a team and become an integral piece for a championship contender, but just not in Miami.