But that doesn't mean they failed him
Jimmy Butler graced the Miami Heat with his presence when he joined the franchise in the summer of 2019. After stints with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers, Butler had found a home that embraced his up-front approach.
Butler did everything he could to will the Heat to their 4th championship, but the basketball gods had other plans. He went toe-to-toe with LeBron James in the NBA Bubble, matching James with triple-doubles and 40-point masterclasses. His superhuman 2023 run was one for the ages until the Denver Nuggets knocked out the 8th-seeded Heat in the NBA Finals.
The Heat missed out on Damian Lillard, but other point guards might have been available.
The Heat swapped Goran Dragic for Jimmy Butler's long-time friend Kyle Lowry through these two runs. Unfortunately, Dragic and Adebayo were injured in the 2020 finals. This move was a sign-and-trade that saw a 35-year-old small guard get paid $30M a year until he was 37. Lowry was getting up there in age but was a champion in Toronto and won the Gold Medal in Spain with Butler in 2016.
The trade worked wonders to begin. Lowry helped quarterback the Heat to the one seed in 2022, winning 53 games in the East, with Jimmy and Bam Adebayo only playing 50-something games each. The Heat had their most potent offense in the Butler era that year-- ball movement and dribble handoff were huge staples in that offense. The Heat was the number one 3-point shooting team, shooting 38%.
The Heat and Boston Celtics had a memorable seven-game series in the Conference Finals that saw Boston advance. Miami Heat fans and pundits expected a splash this offseason. Kyle Lowry didn't age gracefully in Miami, and Herro was banged up two postseason runs in a row.
The effect of Herro's injuries or Lowry's decline would've been alleviated had they traded for one of the stars social media attached them to. Bradley Beal, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden were seemingly to be had. But there weren't serious interests on both sides.
Beal didn't want to waive his no-trade clause, the Heat had concerns over James Harden's fit within the culture, and the world was down on Irving due to off-the-court issues. I was always in the trade Herro for a star camp if possible. What he's turned into today is remarkable, but superstars win titles in this league. Miami knows all about it.
Striking out on Damian Lillard in 2023 wasn't the front office's fault. Kevin O'Connor and other media juggernauts crapped all over the Heat's godfather offer calling it the potential worst trade of all time.
Blazers GM Joe Cronin wasn't dealing with the Heat, regardless. Lillard would have changed the franchise's trajectory and moved Butler to a second-option role.
They didn't fail Jimmy when they failed to acquire Dame, but not seriously kicking the tires on a Harden or Irving trade wasted opportunities that a better Butler had at a title. Injuries to Butler's sidekicks in pivotal playoff moments are more to blame than management.
The fit concerns with Harden aren't overblown, but he's a top-four shooting guard ever and a world-class playmaker. You make it work with that level of talent. The Heat's offense had been in the mud for years. He was sure to change that. That's the only credence I give the front office failed Jimmy crowd.
I wouldn't have gone the Beal route with the assets you'd have to give up, and Kyrie isn't the playmaker Harden is. However, Kyrie would still have been a drastic upgrade as the Heat's number one option years ago.
The Heat got him his friend in Lowry but didn't put the superstar scorer around Jimmy, which was always much needed.
But they didn't fail Butler in the end.
Who knows what happens if the Heat finish those postseason runs healthy?