NBA Insiders Detail Problems Brewing Between Heat, Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler’s time with the Miami Heat may be coming to an end.

Despite a very successful run together, it is increasingly seeming like Butler and the Heat’s front office are no longer on the same page heading into this summer.

NBA insider David Aldrige detailed detailed the disconnect between the two sides this week.

“But there have been murmurings this year that Butler and the Heat may no longer be singing from the same hymnal. Butler, famously, does things his way, and Miami’s organization, famously, does not brook much individualism,” Aldridge wrote.

“To be sure, Miami doesn’t mind the uncomfortable feelings a player of Butler’s caliber can create in search of championships,” Aldridge added. “But Heat Culture has parameters and expectations. Butler’s never played more than 64 games in any of his five seasons there, and while he bristles at the “Playoff Jimmy” moniker, the postseason clearly matters to him more than January and March games in Detroit or Washington or Charlotte.”

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst echoed Aldridge’s sentiments to a certain degree.

“The first name to watch is Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. He’s got two years left on his contract … the Sixers chose this Tobias Harris contract instead of paying Jimmy Butler five years ago,” Windhorst said on ‘Get Up’ this week.

“Well, that contract is up. If Jimmy Butler wants to extend and the Heat are not willing to do it, is there a way to revisit that? They have assets from the James Harden trade that they could use in addition to cap space.”

Will Butler and the Heat ultimately get on the same page before a team like the 76ers can swoop in and take advantage of the chaos? Time will tell.