When he first joined the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler became the butt of the joke among Philadelphia 76ers fans.
They thrashed him for choosing Miami over them, stating that he would never even sniff the second round of the playoffs.
Butler responded by leading the Heat to two trips to the NBA Finals, and while they haven’t been able to finish the job jet, he proved to be perfect for their organization.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to see that he wants to continue his career in South Beach.
According to a report by Anthony Chiang, Butler is looking to sign a max contract extension in the offseason (via NBACentral).
Jimmy Butler is seeking a max extension from the Miami Heat this summer, per @Anthony_Chiang
(Via https://t.co/MtmKzxg0sG) pic.twitter.com/EzQa8QMUya
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 2, 2024
Needless to say, this news was met with mixed reviews, as Butler has always been a polarizing player, and he’s in a delicate situation right now.
no way heat give this ig story posting washed player the max. no way.
— G7enterprise 🍉 (@pinkpurp11) May 2, 2024
If Jaylen Brown got 300m Jimmy deserves a billion
— BeastBron💜💛 (@bronisabeast) May 2, 2024
Not going to happen. He’s maximized his potential. They gotta draft well and trade him and get younger
— GIFT (@Giftaveli) May 2, 2024
He deserves it big time
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) May 2, 2024
After their first round exit is nasty work
— Naz Reid Enthusiast. (@NazReidMVP) May 2, 2024
For starters, Butler is 34 years old already, so he’s entering the backend of his prime.
Also, he’s struggled to stay healthy over the past couple of years, and he suffered a worrisome injury in the first round of the playoffs.
Butler is one of the best postseason performers in the game.
He plays on both ends of the court, and he’s proved that the narrative about him being a toxic teammate was fake.
It’s not easy to find two-way players in the league, and he’s earned the right to retire with the Heat organization.
Whether signing him to a max contract will take them in the direction they need to go in the future, that might be a different question.
NEXT:
Analyst Notes Big Dilemma The Miami Heat Will Face This Offseason