Jimmy Butler's last several months with the Miami Heat were disastrous. It was an ugly breakup, even for Jimmy's standards, one that ended when the Warriors swooped in and traded for him. Golden State sent Miami a protected 2025 first-round pick for Butler, along with Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Andrews.
Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but the Heat should've traded Butler before the deadline. They should've traded him last offseason, when they maybe could've gotten more than one first-round pick.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Wednesday that a team source said "there was no indication that Miami could have received more than one first-round pick" or gotten a better package than it did for Butler.
Jackson added that teams like the Knicks expressed interest in Butler last summer, but because the Heat didn't want to trade him, there were never serious trade conversations. Fans will never know if Miami could've gotten multiple first-round picks for Butler then, but it would've been better to trade him before he tanked his trade value with his antics.
Heat waited too long before trading Jimmy Butler
Pat Riley allowed Butler's relationship with the organization to deteriorate entirely before he caved in and accepted that the best way to move forward was through a trade. Butler wasn't innocent by any means, but the Heat can only control what they can control. Riley learned the hard way that he couldn't control Butler.
At least Miami received something for Butler, right? He made it known that he was going to leave in free agency by declining his player option, so better not to let him walk for nothing. If you look at it that way, you should be pleased with the outcome.
However, the Heat should've listened to offers for Butler last summer when the two sides were unable to agree to an extension. At that point, he already had one foot out the door. Things with Jimmy don't end amicably. It's how Miami was able to acquire him at a relatively low price in the first place.
Would trading Butler to the Knicks have been ideal? Absolutely not. If New York had offered more than one first-round pick, Miami should've considered it. It's hard to see the Knicks doing that, though, as they sent only one first-round pick to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. They did send Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo as part of the deal. Receiving either one of those players in a deal would've been nice.
Oh, well. What's done is done. The Heat will maintain that they received the best possible package for Butler, which might've been true given the timing of the trade. If only one had happened months before then.
