The Miami Heat are a team that everyone pays attention to during the NBA offseason. Pat Riley has shown that he isn’t afraid to shake up his roster and make a blockbuster deal if it means getting the team closer to contention. However, some of the moves that the franchise has made in recent years have not panned out.
Miami committed a lot of money to Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson during the 2021 offseason. Lowry was looked at as a big-time upgrade at the point guard position, someone who fit Heat Culture and would get the team over the hump. Robinson was coming off of a torrid 3-point shooting stretch. He had flaws but the Heat had been able to hide them.
Fast forward to the present day and Lowry has one of the worst contracts in the NBA. Right up there with him is Robinson, who wasn’t a regular part of the team’s rotation but has been forced into the lineup because of Tyler Herro’s broken hand.
Reloading could certainly be on the horizon as the Heat ended up in the NBA Play-In Tournament this year. Another deep run in the playoffs could certainly change that, but if they are eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, changes will be made.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler & Miami Heat Updates
Unloading the likes of Lowry and Robinson, if possible, makes a lot of sense. However, according to a former NBA Executive that spoke to NBA Analysis Network, Jimmy Butler could also be made available.
“The Heat are not going to blow things up just to blow it up, but they are going to be open for business. Jimmy Butler is expected to be available for the right price. They will certainly listen to trade pitches.”
Moving on from Butler would signal a full-on rebuild in Miami around Bam Adebayo and Herro. They would be able to obtain draft capital and players who are closer to the same timeline that Adebayo and Herro, who are 25 and 23 years old, are on.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jimmy Butler & Miami Heat Updates
The New York Knicks have already been mentioned as a possible suitor for Butler, as he would reunite with head coach Tom Thibodeau on Broadway. They would assuredly not be the only team interested as Butler could be the missing piece to turn a franchise into a contender for the 2023-24 season.
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