The future of Jimmy Butler with the Miami Heat has come into question after he missed their first round series against the Boston Celtics and is eligible in July for a contract extension worth up to $112.9 million over two seasons. Pat Riley was publicly non-committal on the possibility of an extension for Butler when he addressed the media this week.

"He has clearly wanted to be in Miami," said Shams Charania. "He has seen that as a perfect marriage of sorts."

The Heat tried to trade for Damian Lillard last offseason to improve their roster around Butler and Bam Adebayo. There are questions of whether the Heat roster is good enough to continue competing at a championship level as Butler ages. 

"It is interesting the back and forth that we're seeing, but I think Jimmy Butler has always made it clear he wants to be in Miami long-term, it's going to be about will they be able to pay him what he wants," said Charania.

Jimmy Butler is eligible for a two-year contract extension with the Miami Heat worth as much as $113 million to cover the 25-26 and 26-27 seasons. Pat Riley revealed that the Heat have not internally discussed that possibility yet.

"We have not discussed that internally right now," Riley said. "We have to look at making that kind of commitment and when do we do it. We don't have to do it until 2025, actually. But we'll see. We haven't made a decision on it, and we haven't really in earnest discussed it."

Butler's injury issues will potentially be a factor in Miami's calculus.

"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 said. "That's the truth."

Riley also criticized Butler's comments about the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

"If I was playing, Boston would be at home, New York damn sure would ... be at home," said Butler.

"I thought, 'Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?' 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 on the criticism of those teams," Riley said.

Jimmy Butler reportedly wants an extension from the Miami Heat this offseason. Butler has two years remaining on his current deal, including a player option for 2025-26. It's unknown where the Heat stand on adding even more guaranteed money to their payroll moving forward. Butler will turn 35 years old ahead of next season and missed the Heat's first-round series loss to the Boston Celtics due to a knee injury.

If the Heat balk at extending Butler, rival teams believe the Philadelphia 76ers could attempt to swing a trade for the veteran wing. The Sixers project to have more than $60 million in cap space this summer. Daryl Morey will be seeking to fill out the roster around Joel Embiid and re-sign Tyrese Maxey.

Butler previously played for part of one season with the 76ers. Philadelphia acquired Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Following the end of the 2018-19 season, Butler was acquired by the Heat in a sign-and-trade deal with the Sixers.

Bam Adebayo will become eligible to sign a three-year, $165 million extension with the Miami Heat this offseason.

If Adebayo signs for his max, the new deal would begin with a $51.2 million salary in 26-27, when Adebayo will be 29 years old.

Adebayo signed a five-year, $164 million deal with the Heat in 2020.

Jimmy Butler becomes eligible to sign a contract extension with the Miami Heat this offseason on July 7th. Butler is signed for 24-25 at $48.8 million and holds a $52.4 million player option for 25-26.

Butler could sign a one-year extension for 26-27 at $58.6 million, or he could sign a two-year, $112.9 million option that covers both 25-26 and 26-27, which would void his $52.4 million option for 25-26.

Butler signed a four-year, $184 million extension with the Heat during the 2021 offseason after Year 2 of his four-year, $142 million deal signed in 2019.

Butler will turn 35 before the start of the 24-25 season.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. is ruled out for Game 5 on Wednesday due to a strained right hip flexor.

Jacquez had started all four games in the series, averaging 12.8 points.

The Heat are down 3-1 in the series. 

The Miami Heat are believed to be in a position to use their asset pool and how appealing they are to All-Stars across the league to acquire one in the near future.

"Miami is always in great position because, especially if it's players with not a lot left on their contract," said Adrian Wojnarowski before Miami's loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1. "One year or two years. And they tell their team, 'I want a trade to the Heat, and if you don't send me to the Heat, I'm going to become a free agent and go somewhere else. Don't trade me to that team or that team.'

"Teams can still decide to send you where they want to send you, but it's always an advantage for Miami. Players want to be part of that organization. So I think Miami will be in a position again to use the assets they have to get another All-Star level player that maybe connects more on the timeline of Bam Adebayo and his age."

While Wojnarowski didn't specifically mention any names, one player who appears to fit the description is Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell can become a free agent in 2025 and there has been speculation he could seek a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason given his potential reluctance to sign long-term. Mitchell has also been linked with the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.

Last offseason, the Heat had interest in acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, but no deal ever materialized before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The NBA announced the finalists for 2023-24 Defensive Player of the Year. The finalists are Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves and rookie Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

Gobert is a three-time winner of the Defensive Player of the Year. He took home the award in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21 while playing for the Utah Jazz.

Adebayo is a first-time finalist. Wembanyama is also a finalist for 2023-24 Rookie of the Year.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier III is considered week-to-week with a neck injury. Rozier missed the last four games of the regular season and both of Miami's Play-In Tournament games due to the injury.

While a serious injury, the veteran guard's career isn't assumed to be in danger from the neck issue. However, there is no timetable for when Rozier might be able to play.

The Heat acquired Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets in late-January in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a future first-round pick. Rozier averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 31 games with Miami.

After beating the Chicago Bulls on Friday, the Heat advanced to the playoffs as the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami opens their series at the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon.

Wednesday night's Play-In Tournament games averaged 3.25 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2.

The number is a 25% increase from last year.

The Sixers' win over the Heat averaged 3.4 million viewers, with the Hawks-Bulls nightcap averaged 3.07 million viewers.

Tuesday night's Warriors-Kings game averaged 4.05 million viewers.