Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat won’t be staying friends after their impending breakup.
Butler has told Miami that he wants out, and with the trade deadline just over two weeks away, it’s safe to say that his days in South Beach are numbered.
Things have gotten so bad between the sides that the Heat recently suspended the six-time All-Star for seven games due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”
In three games since returning to the lineup, Butler has averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Miami is 1-2 with him back, most recently suffering an embarrassing 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Rumors are indicating that Butler could end up playing alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix, but even if the Suns do get him, have no fear. Butler always finds a way to somehow destroy any organization he finds himself a part of.
For someone who has been surrounded by loads of talent for 14 years in the NBA, Butler has an extremely underwhelming resume. Zero rings. Three trips to the conference finals. Not a single top-five finish in Defensive Player of the Year Voting for someone who primarily thrives on that side of the ball.
Let’s face it: the guy is overrated.
And sure, he’s had some stunning performances in the postseason to earn the nickname “Playoff Jimmy,” but don’t let that title distract you from just how much of a cancer Butler has ended up being in almost every locker room he’s been in.
We all remember when Butler was with the Timberwolves and teamed up with back-of-the-bench guys in a scrimmage to beat the starters, a move that was apparently made to show that Minnesota couldn’t win without him.
Then Butler couldn’t get anything done in Philadelphia, developing a hatred for the 76ers when they opted to stick with Tobias Harris instead of him.
“Tobias Harris over me?” Butler once said after Miami eliminated Philadelphia from the playoffs in 2022.
Now Butler is beefing with the Heat. Who could have ever seen this coming?
Adding Butler to your roster doesn’t create a winning culture. It may seem like it does on the surface level, but every team that has employed Butler’s services goes through the same cycle: emerge as a contender, have a few deep playoff runs just to come up empty, and cater to Butler once he ultimately gets upset.
Butler will never go all the way with any franchise if he continues to put his ego above building team chemistry. We’ve had to listen to him run his mouth year after year, and his on-court success never seems to back up his trash talk.
Now 35, Butler is running out of time to establish himself as a true winner. This next team might be his last, unless, of course, things don’t go his way once again and he requests another trade.
Whichever team does deal for Butler better do it at the right price and should put its foot down upon his arrival. If it doesn’t, don’t be surprised to see another article just like this one at this time next year.
