Ira Winderman: In wake of ensuing moves, Jimmy Butler trade no longer has Heat at a loss

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Jul 13, 2025

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LAS VEGAS — In the moment, the package received by the Miami Heat in the Feb. 6 Jimmy Butler trade to the Golden State Warriors at the NBA trading deadline felt … meh.

When the first-round pick acquired from the Warriors in that trade last month turned into Kasparas Jakucionis, in his fall from lottery prospect to No. 20 Heat selection, the perception was upgraded to … hmm.

And now, even with pieces possibly still to be sorted out, this past week’s acquisition of Norman Powell has moved judgment from the Butler deal, into, dare we say it … a positive perspective?

To fairly assess the Butler deal means rolling the past week’s Powell trade into the equation, since Kyle Anderson went from Heat acquisition in the Golden State deal to needed cap component going out in the Powell deal.

Outgoing from Heat: Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson, Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, two second-round picks.

Incoming to Heat: Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, Kasparas Jakucionis.

It is on that basis where the assessment can be made, even with no certainty that Wiggins isn’t eventually moved to help further clear 2026-27 salary-cap space and perhaps land a better fit.

No, “Hmm” hasn’t moved to “Ah ha” quite yet. But it certainly doesn’t feel as “meh” as it did when Butler was celebrating his Bay Area landing and the Heat were lamenting how Butler had sabotaged a season.

Mitchell proved to be a revelation, as well as somewhat of a rotation bargain with his return on the two-year, $24 million free-agency agreement reached a week ago.

Powell has the potential to address numerous offensive concerns, while also providing future cap flexibility with his expiring contract.

Jakucionis, even with all his summer-league travails, holds as much promise today as when selected June 25.

As for Wiggins, there was the intrigue offered by that 42-point performance against the Hornets in April, as well as intrigue about what he might fetch on the trade market either this offseason or by February’s trade deadline.

No, none of those elements carry the resume of Butler. None set up as Playoff Jimmy 2.0. But that ship had sailed, was sinking, and had the Heat’s season taking on water. Debate, if you choose, whether something should have been done a year ago, during the 2024 offseason, but at some point you have to move on from hindsight.

As for the assessment of what went out from the Heat, it, of course, starts with Butler, who was good, but not great, in his initial run with the Warriors, unable to lift Golden State without Stephen Curry at his side.

If Playoff Jimmy remains a thing, it likely is more of a sometimes thing, a few games here or there in a series.

The other consideration with Butler was the extension the Heat tabled. Now it is the Warriors who will pay $121 million over the next two seasons, with Butler turning 36 on Sept 14.

As a matter of perspective, Butler will earn $54.1 million this coming season. Wiggins, Powell, Mitchell and Jakucions will earn a combined $64 million.

Otherwise, the cost of the deals in boosting overall depth largely was nominal for the Heat.

Love was a mentoring locker-room presence. But like so many of the multiyear deals the Heat have offered veterans, the final contract year largely was set up to be dealt, as it was with final seasons of veteran deals given previously to Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry, among others.

Anderson had his moments with the Heat, but, remember, initially was targeted to land with the Toronto Raptors in the first iteration of the Butler trade.

Richardson never found an injury-free stride in his second go-round with the Heat, out of the league since the Butler trade.

As for the second-round picks dealt, each previously was gained in trades, one from the Max Strus sign-and-trade transaction with the Cleveland Cavaliers, one from last season’s trade of Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers.

The final tally from the Butler trade likely will come down to what happens with Wiggins, whether he gains a Heat foothold or whether he is flipped into other assets to be assessed.

For now perhaps not a W from the Butler trade, but also hardly the feeling, as it was in February, of the Heat being thrown for a loss., there hardly is a feeling of being at a loss after the Butler trade.