If Jimmy Butler enters free agency, rumors suggest he might have an interest in joining the Brooklyn Nets.
Butler, currently eligible for a contract extension, is set to earn $47.8 million this upcoming season, with a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
When asked about the possibility of an extension this summer, Heat President Pat Riley stated that they have not yet discussed it internally and don’t need to address it for another year. He also confirmed that Butler would not be traded this offseason.
Should Butler decline his player option, he will become a free agent in a summer when most contending teams won’t have the cap space to sign him.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Butler reportedly plans to play out the next season without extending his contract in Miami ahead of his opt-out in 2025.
It’s unlikely that he will exercise his player option unless he first agrees to a max deal with the Heat. Butler, a six-time All-Star, is reportedly fond of Brooklyn, according to sources close to him.
Several factors will influence the situation:
– The Heat are unlikely to offer Butler a max contract. After last season, Riley expressed frustration with players missing time, and Butler only played in 60 games, missing the Heat’s first-round playoff exit.
Riley may want to see how much Butler plays this season before committing to a large contract, or he might consider pivoting to build around Bam Adebayo, who recently signed a three-year, $165.8 million extension.
– Butler and his agent might evaluate the market and decide to opt into the final year of his contract at $52.4 million.
– The Nets, who are likely to struggle this season, are expected to be a key player in the 2025 offseason. With four first-round draft picks and potentially up to $70 million in cap space, Brooklyn could build around young talent.
However, they may hesitate to invest big money in an aging star like Butler, even with their flexibility and options.
– After the Heat’s season concludes, they will have an exclusive window to negotiate an extension with Butler. The outcome will depend on where Miami and Butler stand at that time.
While a move to the Nets isn’t impossible and Butler might find the idea appealing, several factors would need to align for it to happen.
