ESPN analyst warns Jimmy Butler will be in 'killer mode' to prove himself to Heat

Entering what essentially amounts to a contract year, Jimmy Butler has a lot of reasons to return motivated for the 2024-25 season. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst warns Butler will be “in killer mode” – which would be a welcome change for Miami Heat fans.

“Jimmy Butler, highly motivated to be a free agent, I think is a different animal,” Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast.

As Windhorst explained, Butler had hoped to sign a maximum, long-term extension this summer but Pat Riley and the Heat made it clear they weren’t ready to hold those conversations after a disappointing season.

If Jimmy Butler returns motivated and engaged, then it's a good idea to buy stock in the Miami Heat next season, says ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Butler last season played in just 60 games and posted the lowest points, rebounds and assists averages in four seasons before a knee injury in Miami’s play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers ended his season.

A bad run of health impacted the Heat’s season as much as anything else, but it was also clear that the Heat weren’t getting Butler’s A-game for much of the season. 

Riley during his end-of-season press conference openly challenged Butler to rethink his laissez-faire approach to the regular season when asked about Butler’s next contract.

“That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley said. “That’s the truth.”

Butler will turn 35 in September and has the option to become a free agent next summer by declining a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season. 

We’ve seen how a motivated and engaged Butler raises the Heat’s ceiling, but the team has rarely seen that version of Butler in the regular season. To get his next (and likely last) big contract, Butler will need to play like an All-NBA player more often. That could, in turn, bump the Heat closer to the top of the East standings.

“I’m basically saying buy (the Heat) because Jimmy Butler is going to be highly motivated,” Windhorst said. “At times it seems like Jimmy looks for reasons not to play. And maybe that will be the prevailing situation, but I believe that Jimmy is going to be in killer mode to try to prove himself to the Heat and whoever else in the league.”