A fatal mistake the Heat must fix at the 2025 NBA trade deadline

The Miami Heat they currently sit as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-18. But while the team was competitive on the hardwood, the Jimmy Butler situation turns into a terrible mess.

As a result, in order to get out of the drama, the Heat must move on from Butler to start a promising rebuild before the trade deadline. At this point, it would make sense for the Heat to finally give the keys to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Hero.

Dissatisfaction in South Beach

Butler has essentially been the face of the Heat franchise over the last few seasons, leading them to a pair of NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023. Without a title to her name, however, it’s easy to see why tensions have risen in both parties. In fact, the partnership looks like it will end in an ugly divorce.

Before the start of the 2024-25 season, there were already rumors of Butler moving away from Miami, especially with the option to become a free agent. Early on, Butler showed signs that he wanted to stay in Miami, despite the Heat front office refusing to hand him an extensionaccording to a report from The Athletic. It is worth noting that the six-time NBA All-Star was eligible to sign a a two-year extension worth $113 millionaccording to the Miami Herald. However, as the season progressed, things took a turn for the worse.

After a 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Butler spoke to the media and didn’t hold back in saying that he had lost his joy in playing basketball in Miami. In response, the Heat organization punished their star with a seven-game suspension while also releasing a statement that gives everyone a glimpse into the deteriorating relationship between the two camps.

At 35, it’s clear as day that Butler no longer fits the Heat’s timeline. Furthermore, it wouldn’t make sense for a team to keep a star who no longer wants to play for the organization. With plenty of building blocks in Adebayo and Herro, the Heat better hit the reset button to start a new era.

Multiple teams are interested in Jimmy Butler’s services

Although Butler is an aging star, he is still playing in top form. The former MVP is average 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while in total he shot a record 55.2 percent from the field. As a result, it’s easy to see why more teams are calling Riley up hope to make a trade.

Butler’s talent and star power should be an immediate boost to any championship contender. His experience and ability to shoot at a higher rate in the postseason could be the missing piece for teams in a position to win. Some teams that could use Butler’s presence include the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, all three of which are built around aging superstars with fast closing championships.

The Heat posted a respectable 3-3 record without Butler. Using their star wing as a trade asset could bring them the missing pieces to finally commit to a promising rebuild. But more importantly, the franchise could finally shed the unnecessary drama and focus on winning basketball games.

Potential Heat trade with the Golden State Warriors

Winners: Andrew Wiggins ($26.3 million), Dennis Schroder ($13 million), Jonathan Cummings ($7.6 million)

Warriors get: Jimmy Butler ($48.8 million)

Among the teams in a win-out situation, there’s no doubt that the Golden State Warriors are the team with the personnel the Heat would want in a Butler trade. With plenty of youth and movable assets, it would make sense for the Heat to attach Buter to the Warriors. To get a deal done, the Heat could target Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroeder and Jonathan Cummings to match Butler’s salary.

Wiggins is an All-Star power forward who can ease the Heat’s transition into a rebuild. At 29 years old, he is still in his prime, which should allow the team to remain competitive. On the other hand, a veteran running back like Schroeder should inject perimeter defense into the backfield. However, the main prize of the job is Jonathan Cumminga.

Kuminga doesn’t fit the Warriors’ system. However, he did show a flash of his ceiling. But with Kuminga injured, the Heat could use the opportunity to take a forward from the Bay Area, giving the Warriors a star who can help them win now in return. Before the injury, Kuminga averaged a career-high 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Moreover, at just 22 years old, he fits the Heat’s timeline perfectly. His presence would be a welcome addition to the young core of the Heat.

On the other hand, the Warriors should benefit from the acquisition of Butler, another star who can replace Stephen Curry, especially after the Warriors fell to 19-20 after a hot 12-3 start to the season. With time ticking down on the best scorer in the world, the addition of Butler should provide some points to lighten Curry’s workload, especially considering the Warriors have been unable to get any productivity from the offensive end outside of their franchise player.