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.
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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.
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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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With the 2024 NBA Draft in the rearview and free agency around the corner, the market is beginning to form as teams and players are making decisions on their player options. One member of the Miami Heat is banking on landing a more desirable offer on the open market, which could intrigue the Detroit Pistons.
Leading up to the draft, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that Caleb Martin isn’t expected to return to the Heat by making $7.13 million next year. Instead, he prefers a “bigger payday.”
The Pistons are loaded with cap space this summer, and have an opportunity to make an intriguing offer or two for a big name in free agency. At this point, it seems some of the top-tier players are likely to look the other way when the Pistons come calling.
A lot of that has to do with the state of the Pistons. After achieving fewer than 15 wins last year, Detroit doesn’t have much intrigue to veterans such as Paul George and Klay Thompson, who are looking to contend for a title right away.
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Perhaps, a player like Martin is willing to grow with a rebuilding franchise while earning a better deal after signing a multi-year contract with the Heat in 2022. Initially, Martin re-signed with Miami on a three-year deal, worth up to $20 million.
Last season, Martin had his best offensive season with Miami. Appearing in 64 games, he shot 43 percent from the field, averaging ten points per game. He also dished out two assists per outing. Both marked his career high. From three, Martin knocked down 35 percent of his attempts.
Martin’s NBA journey started as an undrafted prospect out of Nevada. He joined the Charlotte Hornets on a two-way contract, splitting time with the organization’s G League affiliate.
After spending two seasons with the Hornets, Martin was waived ahead of the 2021-2022 season. He was given another chance with the Heat, landing a two-way deal. Eventually, Martin became a rotational piece, averaging over 25 minutes per game.
With the Pistons in need of proven veterans to surround Cade Cunningham with, Martin could be an interesting free agency option.
Inter Miami are enjoying a golden moment in Major League Soccer, and the 2-1 win over Nashville SC at GEODIS Park is proof of that. Tata Martino’s side extended their unbeaten run away from home to seven games and continue to impress with their engaging and efficient soccer, but without the Messi and Suárez duo. Ian Fray and Jordi Alba were the heroes of the night, scoring the decisive goals that secured the win and kept Inter Miami on the winning trail.
Martino made significant changes to the starting line-up since the last win over Columbus Crew, opting for a formation that mixed experience and youth. The gamble proved right from the start of the match. Inter Miami began by pressing and creating chances. Cremaschi, Gressel and Campana were the first to threaten the Nashville goal, showing that the team was here to win.
In the 30th minute, the initial pressure turned into a clear warning of what was to come. Gressel, with his back to goal, received a pass from Campana and shot with precision, hitting the crossbar. It was a demonstration of Inter Miami’s firepower, which would soon be translated into goals.
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Ten minutes later, the team finally broke through the Nashville defense. A corner taken by Gressel found the head of Gómez at the far post, but the Nashville goalkeeper made a miraculous save. The next corner, however, was no salvation.
Gressel again took the corner with precision, and Ian Fray, at the far post, headed the ball into the back of the net, scoring his second goal in two games after an impressive recovery from a serious knee injury.
Inter Miami didn’t stop there. In the 44th minute, another corner from Gressel was cleared by the Nashville defense, but the ball fell to Jordi Alba outside the box. The Spaniard showed all his class as he got to his feet and hit a spectacular volley into the corner of the net, doubling Inter Miami’s lead.
It was Alba’s third goal of the season and he showed that, even at the age of 35, he can still decide matches with his technical quality.
In the second half, Nashville tried to react and managed to reduce the lead in the 73rd minute with a penalty converted by Hany Mukhtar. But Inter Miami, led by a solid performance from goalkeeper Drake Callender, kept their cool and held off the pressure.
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Callender made crucial saves, especially a diving save to stop a dangerous shot from Mukhtar in injury time, ensuring that the score remained in Inter Miami’s favor.
Jordi Alba was voted Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Match, not only for his decisive goal, but also for his solid performance in defense and attack. His presence in the team has been crucial, especially with the absences of Messi and Suárez, who are at the 2024 Copa América. Coach Tata Martino was full of praise for the left-back after the match.
“He [Alba] is a player with a lot of class and quality, I’m not surprised by the goal he scored. He gives us a lot of options in attack and plays very well defensively,” said Martino.
With this win, Inter Miami strengthen their position as one of the most feared teams in the MLS. The unbeaten run away from home and the soccer on show are clear signs that the team is on course to achieve great things this season. The next challenge is to continue this run of success and go for more wins.
COCONUT GROVE, FLA. (WSVN) – Boating safety is top of mind in the days leading up to the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Several South Florida agencies, including City of Miami Police and Miami Fire Rescue, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez came together at Miami City Hall on Saturday to lead a hands-on workshop focusing on preventing tragedy on the water.
The parents of Lucy Fernandez, who lost their daughter in a 2022 boat crash, were also in attendance.
“Our goal is to prioritize responsible boating in an environment where speed, overcrowding, distractions and a lack of navigational knowledge pose significant risk,” said Andy Fernandez, Lucy’s father.
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Lucy died when the boat she was on crashed into a mile marker near the Upper Keys in Biscayne Bay. She was 17 years old.
Another teen was permanently disabled by the injuries she suffered.
Members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard also took part in a panel discussion at Saturday’s event.
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