Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is poised to become a free agent next summer by opting out of his $52 million player option. And while most experts predict a return to the Heat, the Brooklyn Nets have emerged as a potential landing spot for the aging swingman.
“Butler reportedly has decided he’ll play out next season and won’t extend in Miami ahead of his opt-out in 2025,” wrote Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “The odds of him picking up his player option are slim unless he agrees to a max deal with the Heat beforehand. The six-time All-Star is the most accomplished standout on that list not named James, and he likes Brooklyn, according to sources close to the player.”
The Brooklyn Nets are still picking up the pieces after the collapse of their “big three” with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. The trio failed epically in their tenure together and it left the franchise in a devastating state. Coming off the Mikal Bridges trade this summer, the Nets are projected to be a bottom-five team next season and Butler may be their only chance of avoiding a complete rebuild.
The 34-year-old forward is a 6x All-Star and 5x All-NBA player with 13 years of experience in the league. After his breakout season with the Bulls in 2015, Butler has widely been viewed as one of the top two-way players in the game. Since signing with the Miami Heat in 2019, Butler has taken the mantle as leader of the team and he’s carried them to two Finals appearances in four years.
Last season, despite averages of 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, the Heat couldn’t gain any traction in the playoffs and they suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics. Butler was absent in the series and by the end, even team President Pat Riley was pushing him to keep his head down.
Heading into the next campaign, it’s no secret that the Heat are major underdogs. Besides Butler and Bam Adebayo, the team doesn’t have enough to compete with the beats of the East, especially after losing two-way sharpshooter Caleb Martin in free agency.
No matter how the upcoming season plays out, Butler is likely to test the market in free agency next summer and the Nets will come knocking. They may not have the star power to form a dynasty, but they can offer Butler a life in New York City as well as a solid group of teammates who can make some noise in the East, including Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, and Cameron Johnson.
Together, that lineup could do great things in the league and it would be a fine redemption story for a Nets team that’s been burned so many times in the past. But, for now, all indications point to Butler staying with the Heat and finishing his career under Erik Spoelstra and the legendary Pat Riley.
Set to turn 35 in September, Butler’s best days are likely already behind him but if he can deliver a few more All-Star seasons, it could make things really interesting for whatever team he’s on to close his career.
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