Jimmy Butler is the unquestioned best player for the Miami Heat. The team’s success rides and dies with Butler, especially in the postseason.
Over the past three years, the do-it-all wing’s production has been the best and most important part of the Heat’s roster. At 32, is it fair for Miami to expect Butler to carry this much water for another season?
Floor: 2016-17 Dwyane Wade
Get ready for a corny move from a guy who covers the Miami Heat. I’m about to make a Dwyane Wade comparison correlating back to a current Miami player.
But here we go, so buckle up boys and girls.
In 2016-2017, the greatest player in Miami Heat franchise history was on a weird and partially-successful Chicago Bulls team. Wade averaged 18 points, shooting 43 percent from the field, and 31 percent from three.
He added four boards and nearly as many assists each game. Each number represents some of Wade’s lowest in his career, all while still averaging 30 minutes per game (the following seasons saw his minutes significantly drop off).