The Miami Heat are in the midst of an ugly divorce with their star. But can this drama cost them more than they can pay? Will the way they have treated Jimmy Butler have repercussions on their next potential free agent signing? Reports are that the Miami Heat doesn’t want to take back salary going beyond 2026, positioning themselves as players in the Luka Doncic sweepstakes.
Butler Drama Can Cost Heat a Chance at Luka Doncic
The Miami Heat have a clear idea of what they want to get for Butler. That includes some draft picks and contracts that do not go beyond 2026. They want to position themselves as players in the 2026 free agency class. One of the biggest names that the Heat can chase is Doncic. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst discussed the option on the latest Hoop Collective (minute 52). Bontemps said,
“They are not doing a trade for money past 2026. The Miami Heat will just not do a trade. They are not taking that into 2026-27. They clearly want to be in that free agency market. Potentially Luka can be a free agent, I don’t think he is going to be.”
The Heat have a standard of what they’re going to take in a potential Butler trade. And they will not move an inch below that. Even if it takes having Butler spend one more year on the books while he is resting at home. They have suspended him indefinitely, and they can do that next year as well.
Miami Heat 2026 Class – Luka Doncic Not the Only Target
When the Miami Heat signed LeBron James to join Dwyane Wade, not many people saw it coming. There were rumors about the possibility, but nobody expected it to materialize until the day it happened. During Pat Riley’s tenure in Miami, the Heat are known as a team that chases stars and gets them. They traded for Shaquille O’Neal during Wade’s early years. They got LeBron, and they got Butler to come. Now, they are looking at the 2026 free agency class. While there is no guarantee that all of these players will be available, here is a quick list of potential names.
- Unrestricted free agents: De’Aaron Fox, Coby White, Anfernee Simmons, Collin Sexton, Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deandre Ayton
- Restricted free agents: Dyson Daniels, Jalen Williams, Paolo Banchero, Tari Eason, Walker Kessler
- Player options: Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Zach LaVine
If any of the mentioned players sign an extension, they will be off the market. For example, Jalen Williams will almost certainly sign an extension with the Thunder, as well as Daniels with the Hawks. Yet, teams are monitoring the situation. The biggest fish on the market that year, of course, is Doncic. If things do not go well in Dallas this year and the next one, he has a player option for 2026-27. The Heat will not be the only team interested, but they might have enough cap space to please his wishes. They just have to sort this Butler drama first.
Is Luka a Problematic Player?
When healthy, Doncic is one of the five best players in the league. There is no argument against that. The problem is what happens when he is not engaged on defense, and when he is trying to argue with referees. During the 2022-23 season, he was close to a one-game suspension after his 16th technical foul of the season. The NBA rescinded the technical, and he was saved. Yet, the argument stands that if Butler is a tough player to have on your roster, Doncic is not much easier.
The tension between the Mavs star player and his former coach Rick Carlisle was well-documented. In Miami, there are no options for arguing with your coach. Riley stands behind Erik Spoelstra, and even LeBron couldn’t get him fired.
With all this Butler drama, players around the league certainly pay attention and think about the treatment they will get there. Some side with Butler, acknowledging the fact he carried the franchise to two NBA Finals appearances. He asked for help several times, thinking he could bring a championship to Miami if he received more help. That never happened. The Heat were in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes and missed, and they also missed on Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard.
The Importance of the Summer of 2026
The summer of 2026 will be the first time in a while when teams will get plenty of cap space due to the rising cap. It will be a similar situation to the summer of 2016, when thanks to the cap spike, the Warriors were able to sign Durant.
Per new CBA rules, there cannot be a spike like that. Thanks to the money coming from the new TV deal, the NBA has acknowledged there will be a 10% increase in the cap. That means that by 2026, the salary cap might rise up to $175 million, with the luxury tax even higher. As presently constructed, the Heat have only $94 million in salary for the 2025-26 season. There will be other teams with cap space, but not many who can potentially offer two maximum deals. Pat Riley can go and say to any free agent, pick your co-partner, and let’s sign.
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