The Heat‘s game on Wednesday vs. the Lakers will be the seventh of Jimmy Butler‘s suspension, making him eligible to rejoin the team before Friday’s contest against Denver. With Miami still not close to finding a suitable trade involving Butler, it’s unclear what the next step in the standoff between the team and its star forward will look like.
Reporting earlier this week indicated that the Heat expect Butler to resume playing in games at the end of his suspension. Sam Amick of The Athletic hears from a source close to Butler that the 35-year-old intends to report for duty. But given the strained relationship between the two sides, it would almost be surprising if Butler simply returns to action on Friday without incident.
The last time Butler returned from a multi-game absence amid trade rumors was on Jan. 1, when he played vs. New Orleans after missing five games due to a minor ankle injury and an illness. He didn’t look fully engaged in that outing, frequently standing in the corner on offense without the ball in his hands.
NBA insider Chris Haynes stated during an appearance on the Le Batard Show on Tuesday that the Heat openly questioned Butler’s effort after that game, which didn’t sit well with the six-time All-Star, who told reporters unprompted in his media session the following night that he always plays hard.
Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the implication from team officials that Butler wasn’t playing his hardest was one reason why he requested a trade on Jan. 2. According to Haynes, Butler’s camp also privately pushed back against the team’s suggestion that his effort was lacking, using speed and acceleration data from Second Spectrum.
As has been widely reported, Butler’s initial unhappiness with the Heat stemmed from their unwillingness to offer him the maximum-salary contract extension he was seeking over the offseason. However, another source of frustration for Butler has been his role in the team’s new-look offense, according to both Haynes and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
On the Le Batard Show, Haynes noted that Miami tweaked its offensive system prior to this season to reduce mid-range looks and increase three-point attempts, which doesn’t cater to Butler’s skill set. As Haynes observes, Butler’s usage rate this season has dipped to 21.2%, his lowest mark since his third season in Chicago in 2013-14.
According to Chiang, Butler’s camp inquired about the adjustments to Erik Spoelstra‘s system and was told that Miami made changes in part because the forward’s inconsistent regular-season availability made it difficult to build the offense around him. Conversely, Chiang writes, some people with the Heat may contend that Butler has made his role look smaller than it actually is by “making it a point in some games to run to the corner and play without the ball in his hands.”
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The Golden State Warriors are the only NBA team not to make a free-agent signing or trade this summer. They've got their eye on some familiar faces when they finally do make moves. While the Warriors haven't made any moves thanks to the uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency, they have targeted certain players for when their young forward's situation finds a resolution. Al Horford is widely believed to be headed to Golden State, while the team is also expected to bring back 27-year-old guard De'Anthony Melton, who tore his ACL playing for the Dubs in November. That's not the only reunion that GM Mike Dunleavy and the Warriors are considering. According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the team and Seth Curry have "mutual interest" in the sharpshooting guard joining his brother on the Warriors. While he never played for the NBA team, Curry spent his first professional season as a member of the G League Santa Cruz Warriors. At the time, the Santa Cruz backcourt featured the younger Curry and Klay Thompson's older brother, Mychel Thompson. Seth Curry played 68 games for his hometown Charlotte Hornets last season, averaging 6.5 points while shooting 45.6 percent on three-pointers. The Warriors were only 16th in the NBA last season in three-point percentage (36.4 percent), even though they attempted the second-most threes and employ Curry's brother, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history. The Warriors roster sits at nine players right now. They can expect three of those spots to go to Horford, Melton and Kuminga — or a player coming back in a trade for Kuminga. That leaves one spot under the 13-player minimum, which could go for offense with Seth Curry. Or, they could go for a more defensive-minded reunion. Gary Payton II remains unsigned, after a season where he made $9.1M while playing 62 games, starting 11. He averaged the same 6.5 points Seth Curry did, but shot 32.4 percent on threes. Of course, Payton is still considered an excellent defender, though he's slowing down at age 32, something that's never been said about the younger Curry. The resolution to the Warriors' offseason of uncertainty likely lies in players coming back. The Warriors still believe they can offer Kuminga the most money, even if he's unhappy with his role on the team. Melton seems like a lock to return. The final piece may depend on which flawed former player the team wants to bring back to the organization.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
Only eight plate appearances into his New York Yankees career, Ryan McMahon has already been more productive than the team’s previous third base options. What might sound hyperbolic or outright false at first glance is actually true, at least from a certain point of view. Analytics — specifically, Wins Above Replacement — proves that argument, and it’s one that Yankees manager Aaron Boone should be ashamed of. McMahon went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Sunday’s victory over the Phillies, giving him four hits in his first eight at-bats. FanGraphs ruled that McMahon is already worth 0.2 fWAR through two games in a Yankees uniform. Amazingly, McMahon has a higher fWAR than the trio of DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas, who have played a combined 148 games in the infield thus far. LeMahieu provided -0.1 fWAR over 45 games before being unceremoniously cut earlier this month, while Vivas (-0.2) is currently at Triple-A. Peraza and his -0.6 fWAR remain on the active roster, though he’s shifted into a bench role. Baseball-Reference has been slightly more generous, giving Peraza -0.2 bWAR. Boone stuck with LeMahieu and Peraza until he couldn’t anymore, and it’s partly why the Yankees have dropped to 5 1/2 games back in the AL East. Injuries and age took their toll on LeMahieu, who only played second after returning from calf and hip problems. Peraza owns a .152 average and .452 OPS in 170 plate appearances. We’ll see if McMahon can elevate the Yankees, who open a pivotal four-game set with the rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking move early in the 2025 offseason. In a bold and unexpected trade, the team acquired star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, instantly changing the outlook of their offense. Shortly after the deal, the Steelers committed long-term, signing Metcalf to a five-year contract worth $150 million, with four new years and $132 million in fresh money. At $33 million per year, the Steelers made it clear they believe Metcalf is a rare talent worth every dollar. While the Steelers were focused on boosting their offense, their move has caused problems elsewhere in the NFL. The Washington Commanders now find themselves in a difficult position with their own star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that McLaurin "wants considerably more than" the $33 million per year that Metcalf received in Pittsburgh. That revelation has sparked questions about whether the Commanders are prepared to meet McLaurin’s growing demands. The Steelers may not have intended to impact other teams' contract negotiations, but their deal with Metcalf is now being used as a measuring stick. McLaurin, who has consistently been one of the most reliable wideouts in the league, is looking to cash in at a level that reflects his value. Pittsburgh’s decision to pay top dollar has inadvertently put pressure on Washington, who must now decide whether to match or exceed those terms to keep their top receiver happy. The Commanders find themselves in a difficult position as the NFL continues to see critical positions like wide receiver experience rapid increases in market value. As star players across the league sign massive deals, it becomes increasingly challenging for teams to build balanced rosters while also keeping their top talent and maintaining consistency from one season to the next. Washington is now facing that exact challenge with McLaurin. It makes perfect sense that Metcalf’s massive extension with the Steelers is being used as a comparison. This is a common pattern in the NFL. One player gets paid, and others in the same position group see it as their opportunity to cash in. McLaurin, after watching Metcalf land a $33 million per year deal, likely sees this as the perfect moment to get the contract he believes he deserves. It is not about being greedy. Players understand the business side of the league and know their value can shift quickly. When the opportunity comes, they have to take advantage of it. Steelers' Omar Khan Has A Chance To Do Something Crazy At Wide Receiver The bigger question is whether McLaurin could become available if things continue to stall in Washington. While the Steelers might seem like a potential landing spot, they are already investing heavily in Metcalf. Paying McLaurin even more than Metcalf would be incredibly difficult under the current financial structure. However, if General Manager Omar Khan were somehow able to make it work, it would completely reshape how the rest of the league views Pittsburgh entering the 2025 season. For now, both sides appear to be stuck, and that uncertainty could eventually lead to McLaurin’s name surfacing in trade talks, even if his price is far too high for Pittsburgh to realistically consider. While it’s highly unlikely the Steelers would make another major move at wide receiver, Khan has shown a willingness to get creative with the salary cap, so nothing can ever be completely ruled out. With the right cap maneuvering, there’s always a slim chance something unexpected could happen. Though the idea of the Steelers making McLaurin higher paid than Metcalf certainly sounds very unlikely at this point.