Will he stay or will he go?
The NBA world is very curious to see what happens next with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.
It seems that Butler’s time with the Heat could be nearing an end, but is that what the six-time All-Star wants?
On Thursday’s episode of “First Take,” Brian Windhorst opened up about Butler’s wishes.
Windhorst said that Butler’s preference would be to sign a contract extension and remain with the Heat.
In fact, that is what he wanted last summer, but Pat Riley didn’t allow that to happen.
Now with the trade season right around the corner, all eyes are on Butler and there is great speculation about his future.
"I think Jimmy Butler's preference would be to sign an extension in Miami. … Pat Riley came out at the end of last season and said that's not what the Heat were doing." ? @WindhorstESPN on Jimmy Butler's future with the Miami Heat ? pic.twitter.com/bCZz4EYovv
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 12, 2024
The talk around Butler heated up even more this week when there were rumors of the team willing to hear offers on him.
Already, the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and other teams are allegedly in the mix to sign Butler.
However, there is still a chance that he will sign another deal with the Heat and remain with the team he has played with for six seasons.
Butler and the Heat haven’t seen eye to eye on a contract extension for a while, and it looks like it’s all coming to a head this season, with a strong chance of Butler departing for another franchise.
Although his stat line has dipped a bit, Butler is still scoring 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.
Those numbers could be attractive to several teams throughout the league, but if he really does desire to remain in Miami, he might be able to work something out with the Heat.
Of course, the NBA is a business, and Butler might not ultimately get what he wants.
NEXT: Jimmy Butler Has 2-Word Response About His Future With Heat
