Latest news with #post-Butler
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Andrew Wiggins' future uncertain as Miami Heat eyes bold roster move before 2025 NBA Draft
With the 2025 NBA Draft just days away, the Miami Heat appear to be making moves—again. After parting ways with Jimmy Butler last season and suffering a disappointing playoff sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami's front office is reportedly exploring trade options that could reshape their roster. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Now, all eyes are on Andrew Wiggins, who may not be in South Beach much longer as the team weighs its future around rising stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Andrew Wiggins lands on trade block as Miami Heat prepare to shake up roster ahead 2025 NBA Draft The post-Butler era in Miami was meant to signal a new direction. When the dealt to the last season, they acquired , Kyle Anderson, and the No. 20 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. But despite high hopes, Wiggins' stint in Miami hasn't exactly gone as planned. Limited to just 17 games due to injuries, Wiggins still managed to put up respectable numbers, averaging 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. Yet, it appears his time with the franchise could be short-lived. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Heat are actively shopping the 29-year-old forward ahead of the draft. 'Teams are wondering what is next with the Miami Heat after striking out on a Durant trade,' Siegel wrote in an article. 'Miami continues to make Andrew Wiggins available in trade talks and would be willing to part with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft for an upgrade alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.' The trade chatter comes as the Heat look to reposition themselves in the Eastern Conference. After missing out on a chance to acquire Kevin Durant, Miami's front office—led by head coach Erik Spoelstra and general manager Andy Elisburg—may see more value in flipping their draft pick and Wiggins for a more durable or system-fitting piece. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Wiggins is currently in the third year of a four-year, $109 million contract he originally signed with Golden State in 2022. He holds a player option for the 2026–27 season, giving any potential trade partner two full seasons of control before free agency becomes a factor. Also Read: With the draft looming this Wednesday, Miami could be one of the more active teams looking to shake up its roster. Whether Andrew Wiggins remains part of that picture will likely be answered soon. But one thing's clear—Miami is planning for the future, and it may not include the former All-Star forward.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Heat vs. Cavaliers in 2025 NBA playoffs: Predictions, schedule, series preview
Heat vs. Cavaliers in 2025 NBA playoffs: Predictions, schedule, series preview Show Caption Hide Caption NBA playoff preview: Who can beat Boston or Cleveland? Analyzing if the Bucks, Knicks, or Pacers have what it takes to beat Boston or Cleveland in the playoffs From wire-to-wire in the East, it was the Cleveland Cavaliers who carried the day. Under new coach Kenny Atkinson, the Cavs rolled through their schedule en route to 64 victories, four behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for best in the NBA. In fact, the Cavaliers tied for the second-best all-time start to a regular season, after they won their first 15 games. Led by guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, the Cavs have embraced spacing, as forward Evan Mobley has improved his outside game. MORE: How Luka Doncic-LeBron James connection turned Lakers into legitimate title contender MORE: See what has Darius Garland smiling again The Heat have had something of a tumultuous season, culminating in the February trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, returning Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and Davion Mitchell (in a subsequent deal) back to Miami. By and large, Miami muddled through the post-Butler days, but the Heat finished the season strong and powered through the Play-In Tournament to clinch its sixth consecutive postseason appearance. Here's everything you need to know about the first-round series between the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers: Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers preview How the Heat will win: Butler isn't walking through the door. Miami will need near-flawless performances from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo and role players will need to contribute scoring. But, more than anything, the Heat have to figure out their second-half issues, when they've constantly blown leads late. That, of course, assumes that they would even have leads against a very potent Cavaliers outfit. And Miami has to win on the glass, where Cleveland can yield some second-chance opportunities. How the Cavaliers will win: As long as Cleveland plays its efficient, well-spaced offense and protects the ball, it should have no problem moving onto the next round. But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is a tactician, and he will certainly try to mix things up — either with zone looks or mismatches — so the Cavs should also plan to adapt their game plan, when necessary. Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers stat The Cavaliers posted the NBA's best offensive rating this season, scoring 121.0 points per 100 possessions. That ranks second in NBA history only to last year's Boston Celtics team (122.2), which went on to win the NBA championship. Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers players to watch Andrew Wiggins, Heat: The Cavaliers will game plan for Herro. Adebayo will get his touches in the paint. But for Miami to win, it will need Wiggins to be assertive and seek his shots, especially when Cleveland tries to force the ball out of Herro's hands. The Cavaliers will game plan for Herro. Adebayo will get his touches in the paint. But for Miami to win, it will need Wiggins to be assertive and seek his shots, especially when Cleveland tries to force the ball out of Herro's hands. De'Andre Hunter, Cavaliers: Cleveland's primary threat off the bench, Hunter has been a seamless fit since the team traded for him in February. Hunter immediately brought more size and versatility at the wing, and particularly in Cleveland's second rotation; he's averaging 14.3 points per game in 27 games with the Cavs. Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers predictions Lorenzo Reyes: Cavaliers in 6 Cavaliers in 6 Heather Tucker: Cavaliers in 5 Cavaliers in 5 James Williams: Cavaliers in 4 Cavaliers in 4 Jeff Zillgitt: Cavaliers in 5 Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers schedule Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. | TNT Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. | TNT Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD * Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD * Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD * Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD * All times Eastern. *-if necessary Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers season series The Cavaliers won the season series, taking two out of three games.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Loss to 76ers provides graphic proof why Warriors paid Butler
Loss to 76ers provides graphic proof why Warriors paid Butler originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area All it took was seven barren minutes Saturday night to understand why the Warriors pursued, acquired and made an expensive two-year commitment to 35-year-old Jimmy Butler III. They did it to bring clarity to a team whose offense went nearly three months without the slightest sign of breaking its habit of spending 12-14 minutes each game wandering through the mental fog that materializes every time Stephen Curry leaves the floor. When Curry left the floor with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter, he joined a sidelined Butler on the bench hoping his teammates could maintain, or perhaps expand, a six-point (30-24) lead against a wounded 76ers team that had lost nine consecutive games. The fog, absent in Butler's eight games, immediately came rolling in, leaving the Warriors disoriented enough to lose the lead and trudge out of Wells Fargo Arena with a 125-119 loss that halts their momentum and cuts deeply into the mojo generated by the post-Butler bump. The Warriors were plus-12 in the 36 minutes Curry was on the floor – and minus-19 in the 12 minutes he rested. 'I can't play 48, obviously,' Curry told reporters in Philadelphia. 'And we should have the ability to play with confidence and put together a decent stretch. That doesn't mean you're going to win those minutes. It just means you're going to buy some time and give us an opportunity to – especially on the road – give us a chance to finish the half strong. 'It was tough to score. We had some turnovers. We did correct a little bit of that in the second half, but if you mess around with a team that's desperate like that and you give them a 16-point cushion, or whatever it was, it's hit or miss whether you can get back in the game and actually win it.' Curry had 12 points in the first 10 minutes, and the Warriors had a six-point advantage (30-24) when he went out with 2:07 left in the first quarter. By the time Curry returned with 6:46 left in the second quarter, that lead had been converted to a five-point deficit (42-37). Outscored 18-7, the lead vanished and they never built another. Golden State ended the first quarter with five missed shots, a turnover and not one bucket. They opened the second quarter by missing seven of nine shots and committing a turnover. Newly acquired guard Quentin Grimes drained a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, giving the 76ers a 12-point lead and, moreover, an infusion of confidence they hadn't felt in weeks. The Warriors? They looked as they did before Butler arrived Feb. 8 and instantly lifted their sagging spirits. Lost and uncertain. Active but unproductive. And that applies to offense and defense. Brandin Podziemski, who benefits greatly from Butler's presence, strayed from his assured approach and seemed profoundly unsettled. In 25 minutes, he scored five points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field, including 0 of 3 from deep, and finished a team-worst minus-16. Moses Moody, also thriving since Butler's arrival, scored 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting, including 2 of 4 from distance, and finished minus-10. Draymond Green missed four layups and still finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, eight assists – and a team-high four turnovers. The absence of Butler left too many Warriors grasping for their games and catching futility. They missed 14 shots considered layups by the NBA. The point-of-attack defense was poor, there were lapses in transition and they also reverted to overhelping and failing to read opposing personnel. Philly, 24th in 3-point shooting at 34.6 percent, shot 57.6 percent beyond the arc. With a chance to escape the NBA play-in tournament box and move into sixth place in the Western Conference, they looked like the team that was in 10th place three weeks ago. And they can only hope Butler heals quickly, because coach Steve Kerr is committed to being careful with Curry's minutes. 'We've got three games in four nights,' Kerr said. 'I can't play him 40 minutes. I don't really want to play him much more than 34 or 35, but he ended up around 36. We shortened his rest in the second [half]. We were a little desperate and hanging in there, and we had a shot, so we went for it.' The Warriors managed to tie the game twice, the last 116-116 with 2:01 remaining, but were outscored 8-3 inside the final two minutes. Butler had been the cure to this malady. He connected the game for Podziemski and Moody, allowed Green space to minimize his weaknesses and ride his assets. Butler also allowed Curry's pulse, racing from late-November into February, to operate at a level closer to normal. The non-Curry minutes are the portions of the game when Butler's value soars. Without him, the Warriors plunged into fatal disarray. 'He does everything,' Curry said of Butler. 'We had built a good chemistry and rhythm with him. He impacts both ends of the floor. For the most part since he's been here, either one of us has been on the court at all times. Without it, it changes the rotation, and we didn't adjust well enough for 48.' If you wonder why Golden State was desperate enough to offer a two-year, $121 million contract extension to a veteran who has missed an average of 21.7 games in each of the past three seasons, you now have the answer. They did it in hopes of saving a season run aground. 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Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen A admits he was wrong about Butler's impact on Warriors
Stephen A admits he was wrong about Butler's impact on Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area The Warriors have played at an elite level after trading for six-time NBA All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, forcing plenty of naysayers to walk back their criticisms. One humbled analyst, in particular, is ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. He made his doubts clear about the newfound Bay Area union, but a few hours before Golden State's 126-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center on Sunday, Smith took to 'NBA Today' to admit he was wrong about the new-look Warriors. 'I think … I was wrong when I first spoke about [the Warriors] – miracles do happen,' Smith humorously said. 'I think I was wrong when I first talked about this.' 'I think I was wrong.'@stephenasmith is shifting his perspective on Jimmy Butler and the Warriors this season 😯 — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 23, 2025 Golden State was 4-1 since acquiring Butler in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Heat and preparing to face Dallas before Andre Iguodala's No. 9 jersey retirement ceremony when Smith made his surprising admission. Ensuingly, the Warriors blew out familiar face Klay Thompson and the Mavericks and improved to 5-1 with their new star. Butler collected an efficient 18 points, five rebounds and three assists, again alleviating pressure off of superstar Steph Curry, who finished with a casual 30 points, seven assists and four rebounds in just 29 minutes. Butler is averaging 20 points and 9.2 free-throw attempts per game thus far with 5.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals over 31.7 minutes. The five-time All-NBA selection has looked the part and, while a unique fit in Golden State, sparked Smith to recant his bearishness toward the Warriors. 'Because I looked at Jimmy Butler and I said, 'We know what a big-time player he is, particularly in the postseason, but [do] him and Steph mesh?' I don't see that, and I still see them as undersized,' Smith prefaced before acknowledging the Warriors' visible rejuvenation. 'Here's what I've noticed. First of all, let's not forget Draymond Green, the future Hall of Famer [and] four-time champion, that obviously has elevated his level of inspiration to play because he knows they got a chance. Steph Curry, obviously being inspired, we know what he brings to the table. 'Jimmy Butler is averaging 20 [points] and six [rebounds]. He is averaging over nine free throws per game … When I think of Steph Curry, outside of his marksmanship, the one thing that I marvel at – like LeBron [James] in a different way – is his conditioning. He's running around all the damn time. When you have a guy that can get to the free-throw line as frequently as Jimmy Butler … what happens is you're giving [Curry] a break without him having to get off the court to sit on the bench. That, to me, makes Golden State very, very potent.' The post-Butler trade Warriors have convinced Smith that they're not the same middling team from before the Feb. 6 deadline. And, in typical Smith fashion, the analyst ended his 'NBA Today' admission by offering the Warriors a backhanded compliment. 'So when I look at the West — again, I don't have them winning it, but I can't summarily dismiss what I'm seeing and how impressive it's been,' Smith said. Golden State sure would love to prove Smith wrong again, ideally with another Larry O'Brien Trophy. Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA trade deadline: Fantasy basketball implications of Jimmy Butler to the Warriors
The NBA delivered another blockbuster multi-team trade, with the Miami Heat sending Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. The Heat also received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, PJ Tucker and a protected first-round pick. The Utah Jazz also got involved, receiving Dennis Schröder, while the Detroit Pistons landed Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson. This trade sparks sweeping changes for the Dubs and Heat and notably ends a very public soap opera with Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler. For fantasy basketball managers, it sets the stage for critical adjustments. Below, we'll break down the winners, losers, and key takeaways for fantasy basketball. By bringing in Butler, Golden State adds a defensive edge and scoring threat to a team on the edge of playoff contention. The Warriors' 3-point-centric offense is predicated on ball movement, and while Butler isn't a volume 3-point shooter, his unselfishness and three-level scoring make him a more reliable offensive threat than Wiggins. He can guard multiple positions defensively and is an unselfish, high-IQ two-way player who raises Golden State's floor. He's also been handsomely compensated, reaching a reported two-year, $121M extension. I'd expect a motivated and committed version of Butler with the Dubs. Fantasy outlook: Butler has been averaging 17/5/5 this season, and I'm projecting that he'll see a bump to over 20 points per game as the second option on offense. He was providing sixth-round value despite being disgruntled and checked out, so I'd anticipate an increase by at least two rounds by the end of the season. While I don't expect much to change for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green could see a decline in assists, with Butler potentially becoming another facilitator for the Warriors. Still, the dropoff won't be significant enough to ditch Green in 10-12 team leagues. The Heat's post-Butler era begins with Wiggins and a renewed commitment to youth. Tyler Herro's All-Star campaign continues with him as the focal point on offense, and Wiggins will backfill Butler's role. But how will Wiggins mesh with a team that's already moved on from Butler? Fantasy Outlook: I don't like the landing spot for Wiggins, as he'll go from a secondary scoring option to at least third in the pecking order. The Heat have been giving more minutes to Nikola Jović, Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr., so that will be a situation to monitor once Wiggins gets acclimated. Wiggins can play either forward spots (58% SF, 39% PF this season) or SG, enabling the Heat to experiment with different lineups to maximize his skill set. Still, it's not great for his fantasy value, but I see Riley's vision of getting another flexible wing to add to a burgeoning frontcourt. Keep Jović and Ware rostered, while Kyle Anderson and PJ Tucker are irrelevant to fantasy. There goes Danny Ainge again, getting involved just because he can't resist the urge to be involved in every deal. Schröder's coming to the Utah Jazz is weird but makes sense, given that his contract expires at a modest $13M at the end of this season. This has future buyout written all over it. Fantasy Outlook: Fantasy managers rostering Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George shouldn't be too concerned about Schröder's arrival. I doubt he'll stay long enough to disrupt their minutes in the rotation. Schröder managers will have to wait and see what happens next, but the latest transaction makes him a potential drop candidate until we know what happens next.
