The Miami Heat are looking to move on from the Jimmy Butler trade saga after trading the problematic forward to the Golden State Warriors for a package that brought players like Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson to keep Miami’s Playoff push alive. Butler could’ve been a franchise legend but will likely never receive his flowers from the Heat after the ruthless way he orchestrated his exit from the squad.
Heat guard and new No. 1 option Tyler Herro opened up on the Heat handing Butler’s No. 22 to the incoming Wiggins, making it clear he doesn’t think Butler deserves a jersey retirement.
“Jimmy is definitely a Heat legend, but I feel with how things transpired over the last couple of months. I think 22 can be worn again”
Tyler Herro weighs in on Andrew Wiggins getting to wear 22
“Jimmy is definitely a Heat legend, but I feel with how things transpired over the last couple of months… I think 22 can be worn again”
(Via @sport5il) 🤔 pic.twitter.com/oS6ZKKWyUg
— Heat Culture (@HeatCulture13) February 17, 2025
Herro acknowledged Butler’s status as a team legend, something that’s inarguable. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over five-and-a-half seasons, leading them to the Playoffs every season along with two NBA Finals appearances and one Conference Finals appearance.
His achievements weren’t enough to unseat other Heat stars like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh, and Alonzo Mourning from the pantheon of Heat legends. The fans will remember Butler’s immense on-court contributions, but he could be lost to history one day without his jersey hanging from the Kaseya Center.
Andrew Wiggins is coming to the Heat averaging 17.3 points and 4.6 rebounds this season. There’s a slim chance Wiggins can produce at a comparable level to prime Butler, but he can be an improvement on the version of Butler we saw on the Heat this season.
He will have fan pressure with the number on his back, but he needs to fit in as a third option to enable Miami’s success.
Tyler Herro’s Franchise
Jimmy Butler played a crucial role in the development of Tyler Herro. Herro’s rookie season was also Butler’s first season on the Heat where the franchise went to the NBA Finals. Herro has played multiple roles for the Heat over the years, even accepting a bench role one season and easily winning Sixth Man of the Year as well.
With Butler’s alleged lack of effort reflected in his lower production, Herro took a massive leap as the team’s No. 1 option. He’s averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists this season, getting his first All-Star nomination of his career as a result.
Bam Adebayo has had a rough season, averaging 16.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Herro has emerged as the team’s on-court leader in this vacuum and will hope to carry them to the Playoffs this season. They’re 25-28 in the East for the No. 9 seed.
It’ll be nearly impossible for the Heat to drop out of the top 10, so they’re hoping to secure one of the top six seeds in the Conference.
There likely will be major roster changes by 2026, so Herro will likely have the next 18 months to continue cooking as the Heat’s No. 1 option. The combo guard may be well-equipped to do that, slowly building his own story as a potential Heat legend down the road.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
