Jimmy Butler's future in Miami will be a much bigger topic of conversation after Heat president Pat Riley's comments Monday. During an extensive press conference, Riley spoke on a number of topics, including Butler's recent viral moment trolling the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
During an interview in which Butler was asked who he thought would make the NBA Finals, Butler took aim at the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference saying both teams would be home if he was healthy. Riley made his displeasure with Butler's comments very clear during the press conference.
“If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut,” he told reporters.
Pat Riley on Jimmy Butler's comments that the Heat would've won over Boston if he were healthy… "you should keep your mouth shut" pic.twitter.com/K1K3RVo0lt
— WPLG Local 10 Sports (@Local10Sports) May 6, 2024
Riley's thoughts on Butler's future with the franchise were also on the table during his presser. Butler has two years left on his current contract, which will pay him $48 million for the 2024-25 season and $52 million for the following season if he opts into the final year of his deal.
According to reporting from Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Butler is expected to ask the Heat for a two-year contract extension worth about $113 million. Riley said during his presser that the two sides haven't discussed Butler's contract, but the team president was candid about what he'll be looking for when it's time to have a discussion about Butler's extension.
“We have to look at making that kind of commitment and when do we do it," Riley said. "We don’t have to do it until 2025, actually. But we’ll see."
“That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley added.
Butler hasn't played a full season of games since joining the Heat and his absence during the first round of the playoffs left the Heat severely shorthanded. But when Butler is on the court, especially during the playoffs, his impact is undeniable.
The Heat reached a surprising level of success during Butler's five-year tenure in Miami. In that span, they've made the Eastern Conference finals three times and had two separate runs to the NBA Finals: Once as a 60-1 preseason underdog before the 2019-20 season and as a 125-1 underdog and No. 8 seed before last season's playoffs.
The Heat are tied with the Celtics for the most wins (41) of any playoff team over their five-year span with Butler and are the most profitable team against the spread (46-29, +$1,341), according to Bet Labs.
After Riley's comments today, the spotlight will be on what happens next for Miami's star.
