_By Greg Cote Miami Herald (TNS)_
MIAMI — The Miami Heat in its Jimmy Butler era has been consistently good enough to tease and tantalize but not good enough to turn the hope into celebration. So it is again now, just past the quarter mark of his sixth NBA season in South Florida, with a team 12-10 after three impressive straight wins.
You can predict how this will play out, though, right? Coach Erik Spoelstra’s men will marshal the fierce competitiveness that defines Heat Culture to be the proverbial tough out in the first round of the playoffs. But the Heat will be nobody’s threat to raise the franchise’s fourth championship trophy in a conference with reigning champ Boston and a half dozen other teams with better title odds.
Pretty good. Not good enough.
It might feel like harsh judgment of where the Heat stands, and of the Butler era, but it also is fair and accurate as fresh speculation swirls around the possibility Miami might part with Butler before the league’s Feb. 7 trade deadline.
The introduction of Butler before Thursday night’s home game vs. Toronto might in turn feel a bit different. A bit more like goodbye? Like thank you?
Butler’s five-plus seasons in Miami have been an on-balance success if you’re a bottom-liner. Two NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference final series (though all ending in loss) have seen the Heat as legit contenders in three of five seasons. And Butler already has risen to fifth all-time in club win shares, after only Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Alonzo Mourning and current teammate Bam Adebayo.
Playoff Jimmy has proved able to lift his game in the postseason with epic performances ... though not able to lift the ultimate trophy. Eccentric, colorful, he has a lasting place in Heat lore, albeit with the big goal unfinished.
So the Heat faces a decision right now:
* Continue to believe that the Butler-Bam-Tyler Herro Big 3 core is the answer and championship-capable.
* Or acknowledge it is not and that it’s time to tweak and retool with a Butler trade.
Choice seems pretty clear to me.
Butler has an opt-out after this season, can become a free agent and reportedly would pursue that path. So the choice is to keep him the rest of this season, then lose him and get nothing in return for him but the memories. Or trade him in the next seven weeks and get something in return to kick-start the retool.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, right, greets Bam Adebayo, left, as he is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP
Easy answer: Trade him and get something, obviously assuming the offers are sufficient. Because, as is, Butler is an expensive veteran with an expiring contract — a time bomb. If there is a fair offer, jump on it.
ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania (a.k.a. The New Woj) reported Tuesday Miami is “open” to offers for Butler and that the player cites Houston (where he’s from), Dallas and Golden State as preferred destinations. There has been speculation involving Denver and the L.A. Lakers, too. He reportedly wants a win-now team, an acknowledgment he doesn’t think Miami is one.
There would be presumed interest, market value I think, even though Butler is 35 and with a somewhat onerous $48.7 million salary. A team close but needing a missing piece might have room or make room for a proven scoring option and fierce defender.
What I won’t get into here (you’re welcome) is the machinations of what deals might work under the league’s new CBA trade rules. I leave that to Andy Ellisburg, the Heat’sVP/general manager who deals with the salary cap and such. Start mentioning “tax aprons” and my eyes glaze over.
But I know this: Houston, Dallas and Golden State among them have a combined 10 tradeable first-round draft picks to dangle in a deal for Butler. Each has young players good enough to be a part of Heat plans moving forward. No team will give up a comparable star for Butler, but a package of players and picks, yes.
High draft picks, players obtained in return and available current veterans such as Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier might be something Miami could parlay. Next summer’s free agents list also includes one Kyrie Irving, whom Pat Riley has privately had on his radar for awhile.
Herro, having a great season, and Adebayo remain players to build around. Young rising star Jamie Jacquez Jr. can step into Butler’s role. The challenge is that Miami must parlay what it gets for Butler to get somebody younger and better. Or do the same in free agency.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, center, shoots over Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, bottom, and forward Nikola Jovic during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) APAP
Bottom line: With Butler leaving soon, either by trade or in free agency, the Heat must confront its pressing need to replace him.
Miami should strike a worthy deal and get something for Butler before he gets away for free.
©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.