2 Ways the Heat need Jimmy Butler to improve to earn his next big contract

2. Defensive playmaking

Defensively is where the concerns aren't as high despite both the advanced and box score stats not being where they should be. Butler is still a good-to-great athlete who has the defensive mind of a free safety. If he truly is going to lock in, there are some areas where we need to see prime Jimmy Butler dominate again.

His steals are the lowest it's been since the 2012-13 season. This is the biggest red flag because it raises concerns about whether he's trying or if he has lost a step. There is an indicator of it being the former as in the play-in game versus the Philadelphia 76ers, he recorded five steals and couldn't move for a majority of the second half. He was active, both on and off the ball, which we expect to see more of this upcoming season.

Getting back to the statistics, his block percentage was the lowest it's been at any point in his career (0.8). Referring back to steals, his steal percentage (1.9) was the lowest it's been since his rookie season and his defensive win share was tied for the lowest (2.7) during his Heat tenure.

It will be a harder season for the Heat defensively after losing Caleb Martin, one of their premier defensive talents. This means Butler will have to pick up some of the work on these bigger wings and guards considering the Heat have done NOTHING to establish defensive help for both Butler and Bam Adebayo. They Heat will need to figure it out, as they usually do.

Butler is an All-Defensive talent and there's no reason that he can't hit that level again or at least give production around that level more consistently. If the Heat can play a tighter defense allowing Butler to roam and make plays, that allows the Heat to get into transition and spoon-feed their offense.

It'll be interesting to see if Butler comes out guns blazing on offense and becomes a pest on defense when the new season starts up in October.

While an engaged Butler would result in more wins, it would also prove that he could have done more these past couple of regular seasons. But the past is the past, and the 2024-25 season is what should matter to the fans, front office, and Jimmy Butler.