Heat's 5 Biggest questions one month before training camp

4. Is Jimmy Butler due for a bounceback season?

Butler has played less than 65 games in each of the last two regular seasons, and he’s been mentally engaged for even fewer. 

Now, in what could be the last year of his contract, Butler has plenty of reasons to be more motivated from October to April. Butler hopes to use this season as a springboard to his next (and likely last) big contract. Not only does it have to be good, but it has to be good enough to warrant turning down a $52.4 million player option he has for the 2025-26 season.

Butler missed many games last season with injuries he could have played through. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Butler should play in more of those “50-5o” situations. That would go a long way in his overall availability, but he must also be more assertive on the court.

The Heat were 8-1 in games when Butler posted a usage rating of at least 26% last season. That speaks to how impactful Butler can be when he plays like a No. 1 option on offense. 

When Butler is passive, it forces teammates like Adebayo, Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. to carry more weight than they should. Butler is a natural alpha – the straw that stirs the Heat’s drink. It’s not a coincidence that they are at their best when Butler is at his.