After the Warmth fell within the first spherical of the 2024 playoffs to the Celtics, crew president Pat Riley drew consideration when he challenged star Jimmy Butler to overlook fewer video games and maintain his mouth “shut” as a substitute of trash-talking Boston. Riley was noncommittal concerning the thought a Butler extension and all eyes turned to the Warmth’s six-time All-Star for a response.
That response got here throughout Monday’s media day and Butler’s feedback had been nothing however skilled and team-oriented, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.
“I at all times wish to hoop, at all times wish to compete with my guys,” Butler stated. “I hear him. I see what he’s speaking about. I’m going to play as many video games as I can.”
As Jackson writes, Butler entered the offseason searching for a contract extension that might have given him a increase on his present contract and added one other yr. However with the Warmth not desirous to rush to finish that deal, Butler now intends to play out the remainder of the season with out an extension and switch down his participant choice subsequent yr. Butler confirmed right this moment that he didn’t contemplate asking for a commerce after Miami opted to not prolong him.
“No, I’m good,” he stated. “An extension is only a couple {dollars}. I’m cool, I’m telling you. I’ve made sufficient. I simply wish to play basketball and wish to be out there, like Pat was speaking about. I plan on being that and plan on us profitable a bunch of video games and making everyone completely happy.”
We’ve got extra from the Warmth:
- Requested particularly about Riley’s “maintain your mouth shut” remark, Butler downplayed it, Jackson writes. “Not too many issues trouble me these days,” Butler stated. “I’m completely happy. I’m wholesome. I’ve received a phenomenal household. And I get to hoop. Not an excessive amount of within the media is ever going to get to me.“
- Head coach Erik Spoelstra, who has now spent 5 seasons with Butler, advised that the 2 of them will should be at their greatest and work collectively to ensure that the crew to succeed in its potential, in accordance with a report from ESPN. “If you get to that a few years collectively, there’s lots of unstated understanding,” Spoelstra stated. “He’s at a degree now the place he wants me to essentially coach this crew at a excessive degree. He wants me to teach him at a excessive degree and push him to greater ranges. And I would like him to be at his highest degree as a participant and a frontrunner.” Butler expressed related sentiments, as relayed in Jackson’s story.
- Tyler Herro spent the offseason bulking up after an injury-riddled yr that restricted him to 42 video games final yr, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald particulars. Herro gained 12 kilos this offseason and is aiming to be extra out there, which comes after Riley known as him “fragile” in his 2023/24 season-ending presser. “Having the ability to keep wholesome, I feel that can assist being extra sturdy, having a bit greater body all through an 82-game season,” Herro stated. “Then simply taking good care of my physique restoration sensible and actually being skilled. I put the work in on the courtroom and within the weight room. Now it’s all about staying wholesome and placing that restoration work in, as effectively.“
- Herro — who has began 107 video games over the previous two seasons however was named Sixth Man of the Yr in ’21/22 — stated he’s comfy in no matter function the teaching employees has envisioned for him. “We’re going to let one of the best coach within the league resolve, we’re going to let top-of-the-line GMs and presidents ever to do that resolve if I’m beginning or coming off the bench,” Herro stated, per Chiang. “I’m prepared to do no matter it takes to win a championship.”
- Josh Richardson is the one participant who received’t be a full participant on the primary day of coaching camp, Chiang provides within the identical story. Spoelstra stated Richardson will finally take part in camp however he’s nonetheless recovering from his season-ending shoulder harm from February.
