2024-25 Regular Season Thread Vol. 2

[Beenie]

Did anyone actually expect Jimmy to definitively say he wants to be here in the midst of an uncomfortable public contract negotiation?

Wouldnt do him much good in gaining any leverage

[AirP.]

TRADE BUTLER

I don’t know why Miami is tolerating this BS

UD needs to show up and check this dude

Riley created this circus when he didn’t trade Butler after not giving him the extension.

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

[AirP.]

Read on Twitter

[insfo]

Read on Twitter

We doing this or not Patrick?!

This response, or atleast first part reads like he might have misunderstood the question to be “Are you going to be with the Heat” instead of wanting to be here. “Who knows” doesn’t sound like a reasonable response to a question asked about what you want lol

Anyway, that last bit about being wanted seems telling though. Someone’s feeling a bit unloved by front offices around the league, and most importantly, ours

[SerialChiller]

Read on Twitter

We doing this or not Patrick?!

It seems he feels he's not wanted which may be true.

15 years ago, I think Riley would have loved what Butler said, had LeBron, Bosh or Wade gotten hurt and said that he would have loved that, he knew the player still thought they could beat the team they lost to. This old version of Riley seems to be different. The main thing isn't the old main thing (a championship), it's filling up the seats and just competing. Miami was close, they got to the finals TWICE in the last 5 years, the ECF 3 times and instead of going for it, the FO let players walk and that usually came back with a weaker team the next season.

The year Miami got Tucker... he just happened to be the last PF standing in their price range, they let their own starting PF in Finals walk for just 2-3 million more a year, they knew he worked with the team and saved a couple of million dollars to go with someone cheaper and somewhat an unknown how he'd work with Miami.

Wade never publicly talked shyt he just got it done when it was "winning time" as long as his body with a bad lead knee from day 1 of his NBA career was able. Lebron did the not one not two not three nonsense and the organization frowned on that BS instantly as well. Butler talks too much it's not something you can try and act like the Heat suddenly don't like. I agree Butler's fight is a great trait and quality but no need to put that stuff out there verbally just do it and let that talk for you. Lately he hasn't been out there to do it so the talk seems extra cheap.

I know it sounds like a lot of Butler criticism but I edited this post to make sure I clearly add...Miami has failed Butler point blank. They wasted his championship window and it's really sad.

[SoFlaKingReal]

Riley created this circus when he didn’t trade Butler after not giving him the extension.

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

You never want to owe a team an unprotected 1st rounder. Without Butler, there is no telling the depths of hell this team could reach next season. Sending OKC a top 5-10 pick is a worst case scenario.

[SerialChiller]

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

You never want to owe a team an unprotected 1st rounder. Without Butler, there is no telling the depths of hell this team could reach next season. Sending OKC a top 5-10 pick is a worst case scenario.

We're already in that hell, just most don't realize it yet and that only prolongs it.

[SoFlaKingReal]

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

You never want to owe a team an unprotected 1st rounder. Without Butler, there is no telling the depths of hell this team could reach next season. Sending OKC a top 5-10 pick is a worst case scenario.

We're already in that hell, just most don't realize it yet and that only prolongs it.

That’s why you gotta convey that 1st to OKC this year while it’s lottery protected. We could very well finally bottom out next season and be drafting top 5-10.

[AirP.]

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

You never want to owe a team an unprotected 1st rounder. Without Butler, there is no telling the depths of hell this team could reach next season. Sending OKC a top 5-10 pick is a worst case scenario.

We're already in that hell, just most don't realize it yet and that only prolongs it.

I think Miami is on the edge of the abyss, the only thing stopping being in the abyss is the possibility of Butler's higher effort play in the playoffs. This is a midlevel roster; midlevel rosters have a few good players on it but if you want to get past being a midlevel roster you have to find a player who has MVP level talent, Butler has had that when he gives maximum effort which he can't do all the time because of his playstyle and now age and it seemed he felt he and the FO were on the same page with that, he found out that wasn't the case when Riley came out at the end of the year and blasted him.

If you don't have a player who can be in the MVP chase you don't have much of a chance, this is why I've disliked the using the draft picks vs trading for players, building up the quality on the roster and going after that high level player which this team really isn't serious about, they want that player for pennies on the dollar and FOs around the NBA are mostly too smart to give up those types of players anymore.

Everything should be on the table for an MVP level player every year if you don't have that type of player. Butler has been able to tap into that level here and there, but if you can get one of those guys, you'd send Butler out the door to get him, give them Bam and Herro if you have to, I'd rather build 2-3 years with an MVP level player and no picks vs having picks and no player who's an MVP level player or has the ability to reach that level.

[unowen85]

TRADE BUTLER

I don’t know why Miami is tolerating this BS

UD needs to show up and check this dude

Riley created this circus when he didn’t trade Butler after not giving him the extension.

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

I don’t disagree with you.

But you don’t give Jimmy the extension. And then you don’t trade him to a team that will possibly give him the extension, and you put Jimbo in Limbo and this is the result. He doesn’t care that Riley didn’t like the deals being offered, as he’s saying today, he just wants to be wanted.

And now the team is trying to make the playoffs surrounded by all this drama.

[AirP.]

Riley created this circus when he didn’t trade Butler after not giving him the extension.

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

I don’t disagree with you.

But you don’t give Jimmy the extension. And then you don’t trade him to a team that will possibly give him the extension, and you put Jimbo in Limbo and this is the result. He doesn’t care that Riley didn’t like the deals being offered, as he’s saying today, he just wants to be wanted.

And now the team is trying to make the playoffs surrounded by all this drama.

I think people need to understand, Butler doesn't have an issue with his teammates, he has an issue with management or quite possibly someone in management he has great respect for. He's mentioned in the past that he looks at your contract as how your FO shows you respect. Miami didn't offer him an extension and verbally attacked him in the press, all this after he not only got hurt in the play-in, but tried to stay on the court if possible, to help his teammates. He could have just quit and not went through more pain but thought he could possibly be a decoy to let his teammates have lesser defenders on them. Basically he tried giving everything he could to the Heat to make them successful in the playoffs and the FO said nah. You can agree or disagree on taking time off in the regular season to try to stay healthy for a playoffs run (which use to the most important thing for Miami's FO) but you can't disgree that Butler plays through pain for his teams, look back at their last Finals run, it was reported he took some injects into the knees just to keep playing.

[SerialChiller]

Lets just be honest here...this is all a clown show we all saw coming.

[AirP.]

Butler looks away after the question and seems to be deciding what to say and goes with "next". It smees he's trying not to rock the boat mor than it's being rocked currently.

If he's considering becoming a FA, playing the most games possible isn't his #1 goal, it would be to stay healthy and enter FA without being or coming off an injury.

Read on Twitter

[MettaWorldPanda]

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

Why does it matter this year or next the pick next year will be around the same area of the draft. Miami has to move not only Butler but also Bam and his ability to keep Miami close in games with his defense if they want to get anywhere near the top of the draft. Bam's the floor raiser for the regular season and playoffs; Butler's the ceiling raiser for mostly the playoffs.

You never want to owe a team an unprotected 1st rounder. Without Butler, there is no telling the depths of hell this team could reach next season. Sending OKC a top 5-10 pick is a worst case scenario.

Not only an unprotected going to OKC in 2026 but and unprotected in 2028 to the Hornets. Would be a miserable situation to be in. That pick this year needs to be paid out at all cost

[SerialChiller]

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

I don’t disagree with you.

But you don’t give Jimmy the extension. And then you don’t trade him to a team that will possibly give him the extension, and you put Jimbo in Limbo and this is the result. He doesn’t care that Riley didn’t like the deals being offered, as he’s saying today, he just wants to be wanted.

And now the team is trying to make the playoffs surrounded by all this drama.

I think people need to understand, Butler doesn't have an issue with his teammates, he has an issue with management or quite possibly someone in management he has great respect for. He's mentioned in the past that he looks at your contract as how your FO shows you respect. Miami didn't offer him an extension and verbally attacked him in the press, all this after he not only got hurt in the play-in, but tried to stay on the court if possible, to help his teammates. He could have just quit and not went through more pain but thought he could possibly be a decoy to let his teammates have lesser defenders on them. Basically he tried giving everything he could to the Heat to make them successful in the playoffs and the FO said nah. You can agree or disagree on taking time off in the regular season to try to stay healthy for a playoffs run (which use to the most important thing for Miami's FO) but you can't disgree that Butler plays through pain for his teams, look back at their last Finals run, it was reported he took some injects into the knees just to keep playing.

I liked the Heat management too until they did this to Wade. Wade took paycuts and drew in stars. Butler brought them to miracle finals without them going all in for his timeline. Now it's a cold bye...at least it would sort of make sense if it wasn't 2 years too late. This team is being run into the ground with horrible decisions from the top down.

[AirP.]

I don’t disagree with you.

But you don’t give Jimmy the extension. And then you don’t trade him to a team that will possibly give him the extension, and you put Jimbo in Limbo and this is the result. He doesn’t care that Riley didn’t like the deals being offered, as he’s saying today, he just wants to be wanted.

And now the team is trying to make the playoffs surrounded by all this drama.

Spoiler:

I think people need to understand, Butler doesn't have an issue with his teammates, he has an issue with management or quite possibly someone in management he has great respect for. He's mentioned in the past that he looks at your contract as how your FO shows you respect. Miami didn't offer him an extension and verbally attacked him in the press, all this after he not only got hurt in the play-in, but tried to stay on the court if possible, to help his teammates. He could have just quit and not went through more pain but thought he could possibly be a decoy to let his teammates have lesser defenders on them. Basically he tried giving everything he could to the Heat to make them successful in the playoffs and the FO said nah. You can agree or disagree on taking time off in the regular season to try to stay healthy for a playoffs run (which use to the most important thing for Miami's FO) but you can't disgree that Butler plays through pain for his teams, look back at their last Finals run, it was reported he took some injects into the knees just to keep playing.

I liked the Heat management too until they did this to Wade. Wade took paycuts and drew in stars. Butler brought them to miracle finals without them going all in for his timeline. Now it's a cold bye...

Either something's changed or the FO was never really in this situation before to show who they were, for UD they just kept him on the roster on a minimum contract which also benefited the Heat since the NBA pays part of that salary (as a veteran). Maybe LeBron was right to leave when he did, maybe he saw this as being a possibility for him too in the future.

[SerialChiller]

Spoiler:

I think people need to understand, Butler doesn't have an issue with his teammates, he has an issue with management or quite possibly someone in management he has great respect for. He's mentioned in the past that he looks at your contract as how your FO shows you respect. Miami didn't offer him an extension and verbally attacked him in the press, all this after he not only got hurt in the play-in, but tried to stay on the court if possible, to help his teammates. He could have just quit and not went through more pain but thought he could possibly be a decoy to let his teammates have lesser defenders on them. Basically he tried giving everything he could to the Heat to make them successful in the playoffs and the FO said nah. You can agree or disagree on taking time off in the regular season to try to stay healthy for a playoffs run (which use to the most important thing for Miami's FO) but you can't disgree that Butler plays through pain for his teams, look back at their last Finals run, it was reported he took some injects into the knees just to keep playing.

I liked the Heat management too until they did this to Wade. Wade took paycuts and drew in stars. Butler brought them to miracle finals without them going all in for his timeline. Now it's a cold bye...

Either something's changed or the FO was never really in this situation before to show who they were, for UD they just kept him on the roster on a minimum which also benefited the Heat since the NBA pays part of that salary (as a veteran). Maybe LeBron was right for leaving when he did, maybe he saw this as being a possibilityy for him too in the future.

Wade becoming a part owner in the Jazz made it pretty clear to me. This organization isn't what it's public reputation is made out to be. It's crazy you diss Spo or Riley on the general board and draw instant hate...people just think they're all that.

[Kobewade11]

Two things that would be great to see after today, one is Jimmy actually staying on the court and two hopefully its the last day the local reporters feed into the circus.

[SoFlaKingReal]

This front office (for better or worse) has a hardline attitude about extending/re-signing players. Butler for years has said he loves Miami, wants to retire with the Heat, etc. But when it came time for him to back that talk up, it really is just about the size of his next extension. I don’t blame Butler one bit, but clearly he really doesn’t care if he’s in Miami or not.

[greg4012]

There is no trade out there that would've made this year's team any better. They HAVE to stay as competitive as possible this year so they make the playoffs and convey that pick to OKC.

I don’t disagree with you.

But you don’t give Jimmy the extension. And then you don’t trade him to a team that will possibly give him the extension, and you put Jimbo in Limbo and this is the result. He doesn’t care that Riley didn’t like the deals being offered, as he’s saying today, he just wants to be wanted.

And now the team is trying to make the playoffs surrounded by all this drama.

I think people need to understand, Butler doesn't have an issue with his teammates, he has an issue with management or quite possibly someone in management he has great respect for. He's mentioned in the past that he looks at your contract as how your FO shows you respect. Miami didn't offer him an extension and verbally attacked him in the press, all this after he not only got hurt in the play-in, but tried to stay on the court if possible, to help his teammates. He could have just quit and not went through more pain but thought he could possibly be a decoy to let his teammates have lesser defenders on them. Basically he tried giving everything he could to the Heat to make them successful in the playoffs and the FO said nah. You can agree or disagree on taking time off in the regular season to try to stay healthy for a playoffs run (which use to the most important thing for Miami's FO) but you can't disgree that Butler plays through pain for his teams, look back at their last Finals run, it was reported he took some injects into the knees just to keep playing.

Let's not get it twisted. He has an issue with not getting an endless supply of max extensions. Everything else is window dressing to shape narratives and posturing.