Jimmy Butler makes Heat decision with trade speculation swirling

Jimmy Butler is planning to be a free agent after next season. 

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the six-time All-Star doesn’t intend to sign an extension with the Heat or any other team before his $52.4 million opt-out clause comes up in 2025. 

Butler reportedly prefers to stay in Miami while the team has shown “no interest” in dealing him away. 

If he opts out after next season, the 13-year NBA veteran will be eligible to sign a four-year, $243 million extension with the Heat, and a three-year, $171 deal if he’s traded to another team.

The 34-year-old forward has been in trade rumors this summer after the Heat lost their first-round series to the Celtics in five games. 

In a press conference after Miami’s elimination, Heat team president Pat Riley ripped Butler for claiming they would have taken down the eventual-champion Celtics if he had been healthy. 

“For him to say that, I thought, is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy [being] serious?” Riley asked. “If you’re not on the court, playing against Boston, or you’re not on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut in your criticism of those teams.”