Ranking every Miami Heat player by trade likelihood
The Miami Heat are at a pivotal moment in their pursuit of an NBA championship. With a current record of 17-12, they hold the sixth position in the Eastern Conference. Despite the depth of the Heat's roster and the outstanding performances of superstars Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro this season, this team may need more to achieve their goal of winning another title.
As the NBA's unofficial trade deadline kicked off on Dec. 15, All U Can Heat ranked every Heat player by trade likelihood and analyzed what could happen before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Let's with No. 14 (least likely to be traded) before landing on the player most likely to get traded this season.
14. Jimmy Butler
- Contract: 3 years / $146,396,031
- 2023-24 Salary: $37,653,300
In July of 2019, the Miami Heat made a significant move by signing All-Star Jimmy Butler to a four-year, $142 million maximum contract. Since then, everything for the Heat has changed.
When in good health, Butler is undoubtedly one of the best wings in the NBA, excelling both on offense and defense. This season, the 33-year-old has been performing consistently, averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Despite Jimmy's steady performance, the Heat still find themselves as a mediocre basketball team -- his word. Looking ahead, the team aims to build around him, not replace him. Butler is undeniably the heart and soul of the Heat and, as we saw last playoff run in 2020, capable of leading the team to the Finals.