Phoenix wants Jimmy Butler. They are the only team that sign him to an extension. Ok, if the Heat decide to send Jimmy Butler to Phoenix. The Heat should ask for a point guard and a true center. Bradley Beal is not that guy. The Heat don’t need three ball-dominant players on the team (Herro, Rozier, Beal.)
Tyus Jones
The Heat tried to get Tyus Jones in free agency and he signed with Phoenix. This season, he is in the top 20 in every passing category in the NBA. He is a true point guard. In “Bam Adebayo is 1B,” a true point guard would set up teammates (something Kyle Lowry was good at doing.) Bam would just have to “get to his spot” instead of work to set up the offense.
Jusuf Nurkic
Bam needs a “PJ Brown-type” player to support him and take his defensive responsibilities. Jusuf Nurkic is that guy. He and his agent are talking to the Suns about being traded. Kel’el Ware is playing minutes in games now and is the center of the future. Nurkic can provide rim protection, allowing loose perimeter defense from Herro and others.
Bradley Beal
Get him, play him a few games, and trade him before the deadline. He is a ball-dominant guard that could help any other team. He is not a good defender. The Heat don’t need to sacrifice defense for scoring. Beal also can’t play off the ball and has been sent to the bench in Phoenix.
Jimmy Butler
The bottom line is, the Heat aren’t interested in anything the Suns have to offer. There are no other teams sending offers for Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler said the most basic philosophy to the Heat’s success in 2022.
“We’re a different team when we worry about making shots. I want us to worry about making stops no matter what, then we worry about making shots.”
The Heat “have enough” to be a Top 5 team in the East. They appear to be too worried about making shots, so as Butler will finish the season with the team then they should follow this philosophy. Butler is slated to join the team Friday in Denver barring a trade.
