The honeymoon period is over for the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Sure, if Butler and the Heat had their choice, things would feel more comfortable than they do. His future is unsettled beyond the 2024-25 NBA season—the final locked-in year on his contract—and it sounds like things could stay that way for a while.

In theory, the two sides could negotiate a contract extension at any time, but neither appears fully sold on the concept yet. Or not on the other’s preferred terms, at least.

Butler reportedly has no plans to ink out a contract extension (with Miami or any team he might be traded to) ahead of next summer’s opt-out clause, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Heat, meanwhile, seem unconvinced he’s worth a blank-check commitment due to availability issues that caught the public ire of team president Pat Riley.

Butler, to Riley’s point, has had trouble staying on the hardwood of late. Butler has yet to miss fewer than double-digit games with the Heat and just sat out their first-round loss to the Boston Celtics due to a knee sprain. With his 35th birthday arriving in September and some heavy tread on his tires (he was once a prized pupil of Tom Thibodeau, after all), it is reasonable to wonder whether these issues are here to stay.

None of this helps with the current climate around the club and its star swingman. Things feel tense from afar and might induce even more anxiety up close. This is decidedly not fun.

It also isn’t a nightmare, or anything close to it. In fact, it could prove to be a good thing depending on how each responds.

If Butler’s plan is to get paid after his age-35 season, then he needs to hoop in a way that makes clear not only is he still within his prime, but he has several prime years still ahead. He needs to show the superstar form he’s been able to summon during Miami’s long postseason runs with him. He has to be at his absolute best, which would provide obvious perks for his employer.

The Heat, meanwhile, need to do the same. They must operate in a manner that convinces him his best shot at capturing the crown is found right where’s at. Maybe that’s as simple as the team performing well and Erik Spoelstra coaching his rear off. Perhaps it means making that all-in trade push that keeps being speculated about but still hasn’t happened.

Butler and this franchise have long felt like a happy couple. A hard-working, incredibly conditioned, ferociously competitive couple, but ultimately a content one.

Now, that contentment seems harder to spot. Perhaps that splits them apart, but it also might motivate them to push harder than ever to make this marriage work.

Zach Buckley works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat. He can be reached at zbuck07@gmail.com or follow him on X @ZachBuckleyNBA.

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MIAMI (WSVN) – Days after thieves targeted a church in Miami, an anonymous good Samaritan lent a helping hand and gave a much-needed donation that will keep the congregation cool during services once again.

A 7News viewer chipped in to help the Gospel Arena International Ministry, located on Northwest Seventh Avenue and 75th Street, Thursday afternoon.

“Because of the news, someone called me today and said, ‘I wanna just sponsor both units,’” said Pastor Junior Thompson.

The good Samaritan donated three new air conditioning units. Thompson thanked a higher power for the donated units arriving when they did.

“I thank God for all the donations that came from people that I don’t even know,” said Thompson. “I mean, these people, I never came in contact with, but thanks be to God that our blessings come back to us, because we love our community, and we’re here for our community.”

Before the units were installed, Minister Alex Alexander said a recent service was practically unbearable.

“It was so hot Sunday,” said Alexander.

He looked over towards his pastor, who was also drenched.

“He preached for like 45 minutes with a suit on, and it was really pipping in the church,” said Alexander.

But the congregation pushed through.

“God brought us still,” said Alexander.

“Everyone was sweating and fanning,” said Pastor Emmanuel Bryant.

Bryant said they initially thought the AC was broken.

“We just assumed that it was malfunctioning, so we just continued to have service like normal,” he said.

But that wasn’t the case. A technician noticed two AC units were gone.

“We believe they used this cage was actually on top of this. We believe they put the cage there to climb up on the roof,” said Bryant.

Another unit had cuts and broken wires.

The church community said they’re praying for the culprit.

“We pray for the person who did it. We pray for their family,” said Alexander.

“We don’t wish these people any harm, because obviously, there is something seriously wrong that needs addressing,” said Joseph Wade.

Originally, estimates for the repairs exceeding $20,000, which is a lot of money for a church that serves its community only using donations.

“We’re just heartbroken to know that the AC was missing, and then to find out how much it would cost to get the replacement,” said Bryant.

But with the donated units being installed, the church is beyond thankful.

“Thank you all. Thanks, Channel 7 News, for what you’ve done,” said Thompson. “Look around. You can see it right now: two brand-new units, better than what we had,”

The good Samaritan wanted to remain anonymous for their grateful donation. The pastor says a third AC unit will also be delivered and installed soon.

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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A 5-year-old boy died on Friday night after fire rescue personnel and police officers responded to Miami-Dade County’s Richmond West neighborhood.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel used a helicopter to airlift the boy after responding to a house with a pool along Southwest 168 Terrace, near 149 Avenue.

According to Detective Angel Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, the boy was pronounced dead at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital.

“Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced deceased,” Rodriguez wrote in a statement.

According to Rodriguez, homicide detectives were investigating the boy’s death.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Wilson Louis contributed to this report.