Heat’s Jimmy Butler makes two decisions on his future. Where things stand

Jimmy Butler, at least for now, has made a decision about his future in the wake of the Heat’s hesitance, so far, to commit to the contract extension he has been seeking.

Butler has decided he won’t ask for a trade, a source with direct knowledge said this week. Meanwhile, The Athletic reported that the Heat has not shopped him in a trade.

And Butler has made a second decision, too: With the Heat non-committal about an extension, Butler has decided to play out this upcoming season and not sign an extension barring a change of heart, a source told The Miami Herald. The Athletic reported that decision on Thursday evening.

Butler is due to make $48.8 million this season, with a player option for $52.4 million for 2025-26. Butler’s current thinking, subject to change, is to opt out of the contract in late June 2025 and become a free agent.

If that scenario, the Heat would be at risk of losing him for nothing next summer. Several playoff teams are on track to have the cap space to sign Butler in a year, with the Heat receiving nothing in return if he simply signs into another team’s cap space.

But Butler enjoys playing for the Heat and could simply opt out and re-sign with Miami in the summer of 2025.

Butler felt strongly about getting an extension earlier this offseason before changing his mind after the Heat did not immediately commit to one.

Now Butler is betting on himself, believing that he can parlay a great 2024-25 season into a three-year max contract with another team (for more than $170 million) or a four-contract with the Heat, for as much as $244 million.

He had initially asked the Heat for a two-year extension that would have paid him $161 million over the next three seasons. But Miami has been unwilling to commit to that, at least to this point.

Butler, 34, averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season but played in only 60 games and missed the Heat’s first-round series against Boston due to a knee injury.