Transferred twice since 2017, first to Minnesota and then to Philadelphia, Jimmy Butler once once more changed creamery during the offseason. The best friend of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins has indeed signed a maximum contract to join Miami, where he will immediately take on the role of boss following the retirement of Dwyane Wade. The Heat now have a new face, and it is symbolized by Jimmy Buckets.
The 2018-19 season will forever be remembered by Heat fans. Not for the results, given that Miami missed the Playoffs with a negative record of 39 wins for 43 losses, but for all the emotions that accompanied the 16th and final campaign of the local hero, Dwyane Wade. The jersey exchanges, the last exploits of Flash under the colors of the Heat, the tributes every night… in short, it was really not a season like the others, so much so that the collective failure almost passed into the background. . At the same time, when the best player in the history of the franchise makes his farewell tour, it makes sense that it takes over everything else. But today, Dwyane Wade is no longer there. We will no longer see the famous number 3 on the Florida floor, and it is therefore a big page that has turned to Sud Plage. A new chapter begins, with Jimmy Butler as the main actor. The former Sixers player has actually settled down with Mayaimi following spending only a few months in Philly. A free agent, Jimmy signed a four-year, $140 million max contract with the Sixers and was then transferred to the Heat, as part of a sign & trade also involving the Blazers and the Clippers. Pat Riley managed to make some noise in the summer market despite a complicated financial situation, and he managed to recruit the now 30-year-old All-Star player.
With the arrival of Jimmy Butler, the Heat hold their franchise player and hope to return to the Playoffs as soon as possible. Because Patoche, he was more the type to put together the most competitive team possible every year and the acquisition of Jimmy Buckets is further proof of that. When you know the strong character of the guy, his somewhat old school mentality, his intensity and his ability to weigh on both sides of the field, Butler seems perfectly suited to the Heat culture. and it is not surprising to learn that the main interested party is very seduced by this one. The Heat is a franchise with pride, principles, identity and a real history. It is also a franchise with ambition and it is now up to Jimmy to take on the leadership role to allow the Florida franchise to once once more become a stronghold of the Eastern Conference. This does not mean replacing Dwyane Wade, who is also a mentor for him and one of his best friends. It’s mission impossible to replace Flash in South Beach. On the other hand, Butler has the shoulders to help the Heat to start once more this season. Last year, in Philadelphia, he was surrounded by several big names, from Joel Embiid to Ben Simmons via Tobias Harris. At the Heat, the big name will be him, even if he will have a rather interesting collective alongside as well as a solid coach with Erik Spoelstra. Jimmy Buckets, who has just turned 30, is still in his best years despite several missed games through injury in the past two seasons (59 games played in 2017-18, 65 in 2018-19), and he is expected to he carries his team towards a positive balance sheet in order to rediscover the taste of the postseason.
The recruitment of Jimmy Butler is also important for Miami on a symbolic level. The All-Star is a confirmed player in the NBA, a reference player. In recent years, the Heat did not really have a franchise player and the average seasons followed one another with a workforce that lacked relief. So yes, D-Wade was there with his status as a South Beach legend to finish his great career, but he was in a role of mentor who evolved off the bench. There, with Jimmy, Miami has a cornerstone to build on right away. By recruiting a guy like Butler, the Heat put a known face on his ID and that’s something important.. Because it shows the ambition of the franchise and the direction in which it wants to go. Having a star in your squad restores some credibility in the eyes of other NBA players. So obviously, that does not mean that the Spo coach band will once once more become a candidate for the podium in the East this year, but it is a good start to hope to find the front of the stage in the short term. Butler’s presence may also help Miami recruit other big fish in the near future, as it’s always easier to join a team when there’s already an All-Star caliber guy there. The Heat were in discussions around Russell Westbrook this summer, or even Chris Paul and Bradley Beal. Also, don’t forget that the Free Agency 2021 is likely to be very hot and Miami might have a lot of flexibility this summer with the expiry of several relous contracts. We know Patoche, he will do what he can to get heavy to allow the Heat to be as competitive as possible during the Jimmy Butler years. No time to waste !
Without a doubt, Jimmy Butler will be one of the most interesting players to follow this season. In a new team, with big responsibilities and a max contract in his pocket, he will have to assume his status as leader but we have seen in the past that this might also cause problems in certain situations (hello Wolves). In Miami, Jimmy Buckets still seems in an environment suited to the character and we really want to see what happens.
