The Jimmy Butler era in Miami is over. Here are the key points from the trade:
• Butler was sent to the Golden State Warriors in a multi-team deal
• The Heat received Andrew Wiggins, PJ Tucker, Kyle Anderson, and a 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
• This marks the end of a tumultuous period, with Butler’s relationship with the team deteriorating
• The trade provides relief and closure after months of speculation and tension
My thoughts on the deal:
• It’s not a great return, but solid considering Butler’s limited trade market
• Wiggins fills the forward spot and should improve Miami’s offense and spacing
• PJ Tucker returns as an expiring contract and veteran presence
• The first-round pick is a valuable asset with favorable protections
• This gives Miami more flexibility going forward
The Heat’s new starting lineup looks like:
• Tyler Herro
• Duncan Robinson
• Andrew Wiggins
• Bam Adebayo
• Nikola Jovic
While not elite, this is a solid group that should compete for a top-6 seed in the East. The Heat lose Butler’s playoff heroics but gain consistency and depth for the regular season.
Looking ahead, Miami now has:
• The non-taxpayer mid-level exception (~$14 million) this summer
• Cap space in 2026 to potentially chase a star
• More roster flexibility and tradeable contracts
Bottom line - this trade makes the Heat a better regular season team with more options going forward. They’ll need to find that next star, but are in position to be competitive while maintaining flexibility for the future.
