Pat Riley Breaks Silence On Jimmy Butler Contract Talks, Possible Trade

Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Monday that the team has not had internal discussions about extending NBA superstar Jimmy Butler‘s contract, and a trade is not currently on the table.

“We haven’t in earnest discussed (an extension) yet,” Riley said. “We have until 2025 to make a decision, so we’re not there yet.”

Riley’s comments come amid reports that Butler is seeking a two-year extension worth $113 million this summer. The 34-year-old has two years left on his current three-year, $146.4 million contract, with a player option for the 2025-26 season.

When asked if the team would consider trading Butler due to his contract situation, Riley was emphatic. “No,” he replied.

Butler has been the face of the franchise since arriving in a 2019 trade. He led the Heat to NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023. He has consistently improved his playoff performances, averaging 24.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in 64 playoff games with Miami.

“Jimmy’s been a great player for us,” Riley said. “He’s been a warrior, and he’s been a leader. We’re happy to have him, and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Riley’s comments suggest that the Heat are not currently entertaining trade talks involving Butler, despite some speculation that a deal could be possible if an extension isn’t agreed upon. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has mentioned the Philadelphia 76ers as a potential trade partner for the Heat if Butler becomes available.

Butler’s 2023-24 season was cut short due to an MCL injury, which kept him out of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. He averaged a relatively modest 20.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during the regular season.

“Jimmy’s been a great player for us, and we’re happy to have him,” Riley reiterated. “We’ll see what the future holds, but we’re not there yet in terms of discussing an extension or anything like that.”

For now, it seems the Heat are focused on evaluating their roster and preparing for the upcoming season, rather than exploring trade possibilities or extension talks with Butler. As Riley said, “We have until 2025 to make a decision, so we’re not there yet.”