Originally published by Angelo Guinhawa on Hardwood Heroics | Last modified on May 5, 24
Jimmy Butler missed the Miami Heat’s opening-round playoff game against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics due to an MCL injury to his right knee. The All-Star shared his genuine feelings on the team and the city he plays for now that his offseason has begun.
In the 2011 NBA Draft, Butler was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 30th overall choice. The 6’7″ forward/guard was a bit of an afterthought during his first two years in the league, but he went on to establish a solid reputation for himself by performing well on both ends of the court.
The Bulls attempted to team Butler with Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, but the move ultimately backfired, as Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2017–18 campaign. The former Bulls standout, who played with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, contributed to the team’s 2018 playoff run ending.
Following a turbulent conclusion to his time as a Timberwolf and a 2019 Conference Finals defeat as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Butler was then dealt in a four-team trade to the Miami Heat. After that, the All-Star left his imprint by guiding the group to two NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 as well as other postseason trips.
Amid trade rumors, Jimmy Butler shares his genuine thoughts about playing for the Miami Heat.
Butler’s deal with Miami still has two years left on it as of right now. Given his age of 34 and past medical history of injuries, experts anticipate that the Heat may at some point consider dealing him. He has, for his part, discussed the Heat in a tweet that Will Manso posted on X:
Game averages for Butler were 22.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals. During his stint in Miami, he was also selected for two All-Star games and was awarded the MVP of the Eastern Conference in 2023.
It is unclear if the Heat will retain Butler in order to compete going forward or move him in order to rebuild for the future. Still, a lot of eyes will be on Miami’s All-Star to see where he ends up in the upcoming months.
