Is Jimmy Butler The Miami Heat’s Binding Tie To Kawhi Leonard In Free Agency?
It was the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, with Kevin Durant being his second call, which made George the third. If George has another lackluster playoff performance, what would be the point of Leonard re-signing in Los Angeles, beside being home and the $17 million dollar house he just purchased there?
If we are talking strictly basketball reasons, Miami is the place Leonard should be looking at. The Miami Heat would have another Big 3, minimally, in Leonard, Butler and Bam Adebayo and a pretty Medium 4, at worst, if they can hold on to Victor Oladipo.
In Los Angles it is Leonard, George, and a bunch of role players. That’s really it, while they’ve, sort of, maxed out to fill out that roster in the process.
Miami has more depth and the right kind of teammates who all want to put in the work to have better playoff performances. Doesn’t Butler seem more like a Leonard guy than Paul George?
The Miami Heat’s front office got a lot of backlash this year due to not being fully involved in the James Harden sweepstakes, as many wanted. With that and If Los Angeles flames out of the playoffs early, you have to think Miami will be all over Leonard in free agency, right?
Pat Riley wants one more title before he goes off into the sunset, at least, and signing Leonard could be Riley’s final gift to the franchise. This summer is going to be a very important one for Miami because Butler isn’t getting any younger and Miami needs to strike while the iron is hot.
Could you imagine Victor Oladipo, Leonard, Butler and Adebayo potentially all guarding the perimeter? That is a scary sight for any defense.
It would be a lovely sight for fans and supporters of the Heat though. So, Miami Heat fans, this postseason is the one to be totally rooting against any good that the Clippers may do.