Miami Heat president Pat Riley has put the brakes on any immediate plans to trade Jimmy Butler, indicating that the team is not considering such a move at the moment.
In the wake of a first-round playoff exit in the 2023-24 season, Riley emphasized the need for careful consideration regarding Butler’s future with the organization.
During the end-of-season press conference, Riley highlighted Butler’s importance to the team, acknowledging his impact on the court.
“Who moves the needle the most on our team [is] Jimmy. He is an incredible player. What I said about change, is he’s going to have to give some thought for what we really want it to be,” Riley said, as reported by Barry Jackson of Miami Herald.
However, Riley remained non-committal about extending Butler’s contract this summer, indicating that the decision has not been finalized internally.
“We don’t have to,” Riley said about a potential extension. “If he requests [an extension as he will], we can accept or say we’re going to think about it. We’ve not made a decision about it. We have not discussed that internally.”
Butler, who expressed interest in an extension, is under contract for two more years with a player option for the 2025-26 season.
While the Heat have until June 30, 2025, to make a decision regarding Butler’s extension, Riley’s comments suggest a cautious approach to committing significant resources.
Concerns about Butler’s availability due to past injuries were also raised, with Riley emphasizing the importance of having a player who can consistently perform at a high level.
“Unless you have someone who’s really going to be available every single night,” Riley said. “It’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources, unless you have someone who is going to be available every night.”
As far as trading Butler, that option is not on the table, according to Riley. “No, not right now,” he said.
Butler played in 60 regular-season games, averaging 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game this season.
However, a sprained MCL sidelined Butler during the Play-In Tournament and playoffs, limiting his ability to contribute when it mattered most.
