The Miami Heat finished 8th the last two years, and both seasons were a mess with injuries. Their big investment, Tyler Herro, has been hurt a lot. Jimmy Butler, though, has mostly stayed in the game—he played 60 games last year, even though he missed a few due to some health issues. Adding to the tension, there’s a real possibility that this could be Jimmy Butler’s final year with the Miami Heat. The team reportedly isn’t particularly excited about Butler’s $113 million contract extension. NBA analyst Brian Windhorst elaborated more on the issue.

“Imma say Jimmy butler, another player going to the last year of his contract, had brief, it sounds like discussions with the Heat about a contract extension. Pat Riley said on the record at the end of this press conference in the spring like that ain’t happening and so Jimmy is highly motivated to have a big year,” Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective show. Although Butler has been a star player for a while now, Miami Heat President Pat Riley wasn’t all that enthusiastic when asked about Butler’s contract extension.

“We have not discussed that internally right now,” Riley said.  “We have to look at making that kind of commitment and when do we do it. We don’t have to do it until 2025, actually. But we’ll see. We haven’t made a decision on it, and we haven’t really in earnest discussed it…” Pat Riley isn’t exactly known for getting all warm and fuzzy about contract extensions, and they’ve shown they’ll move on from players when they think it’s time. Plus, the Heat have a history of making some questionable contract moves. Remember when they gave Shaq that last deal or splurged on Dion Waiters? So, Pat Riley’s ‘infamous habit’ sheds light on Jimmy Butler’s current ‘flammable position.’

But if Butler goes off this season, he could cash in big. He’s already proven himself as a game-changer. If Butler can produce a similar form, he’s set to make a serious impact this year, according to Brian Windhorst. “I think he has proven to be a difference-making player and I think he’s highly intensified to be a difference-making player this year,” Windhorst said. Already in a critical position, Butler will have to deliver a standout performance to get his $113 million contract extension that he is eligible for from the Heat.

A “late scratch with odd malady”- Windhorst said about Jimmy Butler

“Jimmy hasn’t, you know, last year he played 60 games and you know there was a bunch of games where he was sort of a late scratch with odd malady,” Windhorst said. This year, if it’s a toss-up, it’s more likely we’ll see Jimmy on the court, according to the veteran analyst. But the Eastern Conference is getting super competitive, and the Heat have been kind of stuck in neutral, even with the solid draft pick of Jaque. So there’s a good chance things might not go Butler’s way.

But we can’t completely count Butler out, as we all know the “Jimmy Buckets” who led the Miami Heat to the Finals in 2020. He gave everything for his team, even though LeBron James and the Lakers took the ultimate prize that season. Butler might have to tap into that “Jimmy Buckets” energy next season to lock down that contract extension with the Heat.

Another aspect to consider is that Jimmy Butler is 35 and approaching the end of his NBA career. This means he’s running out of chances to secure an NBA championship before he retires. But does Jimmy still have that fire in him? We’ll have to wait for the upcoming NBA season to find out. What’s your take on him? Let us know in the comments.