Jimmy Butler is the leader of the Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo may be the future of the franchise, but Butler is clearly the leader at this point in time.
He’s 31 years old and nearing the end of his prime, but he still has some great years left. The Miami Heat need to capitalize now if they want to win a championship with Butler on the roster.
When a team has a player as good as Butler, his thoughts need to be accounted for when signing free agents. Sometimes players like to bring in former teammates with whom they already have a relationship.
Butler has been around the block in the NBA and has a ton of former teammates. Which ones would be the best fits on the Miami Heat?
Former Jimmy Butler teammate for the Miami Heat to target: James Ennis
James Ennis is a perfect example of someone who would thrive in Miami. His energy and intensity would be loved by Heat fans everywhere.
He and Butler were teammates during Ennis’s brief stint with the 76ers in 2019. Ennis really began to emerge as a quality player during his time with the Magic.
Last year, he averaged 8.4 points, four rebounds, and 1.5 assists in Orlando. Ennis shot 47.3% from the field and 43.3% from three-point range.
Ennis is even a former member of the Miami Heat. He played in South Beach during his rookie season but was traded only three games into his sophomore year.
His defense and three-point shooting would help out Miami’s wing depth greatly. He’s only 31 years old, and the Miami Heat could realistically sign him for around $3-$5 million at most.