Heat players discuss emotions after Butler exit. And Wiggins feedback, more reaction
After learning of the night’s big trade on their phones or from teammates — and in Kevin Love’s case, from a fan — Heat players conveyed relief and excitement on Wednesday night, after the Jimmy Butler saga ended with Butler being shipped to the Golden State Warriors and Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Tucker and Kyle Anderson coming to Miami in a multi-team trade.
“I think it’s going to take a huge weight off everybody’s shoulders once we can move forward from everything, once it’s over with,” Terry Rozier said after Miami’s 108-101 win in Philadelphia, a victory that was overshadowed by Miami’s first big trade since acquiring Rozier last January. “Who we got and we can move forward with that, and try to put it together and get ready for the playoffs. I think it’s a huge lift for everybody, just clarity...
“Obviously, we’ve been the talk of the town for probably the last month. I think it’s going to be huge for our locker room just knowing what we got going out there. It’s going to be a huge help for us.”
Love said having clarity “absolutely” will help, after a five-week period during which Butler was suspended three times and requested a trade.
“I think there’s a relief in the clarity and turning the page and moving forward,” said Love, who’s close with Butler. “I think we got to see a lot of guys be able to step up. And guys that were able to get opportunities or be out there for a significant minutes have grown within those six weeks.
“Hopefully it will be onward and upward for us.... Being able to keep our group and this core together, barring anything happening 3 p.m. [Thursday] it is a good thing to feel and see.”
The Heat, Golden State, Utah and Detroit did not announce the trade but are expected to do so Thursday. The Heat has explored trying to trade Anderson, who was included to help facilitate the trade from a salary cap perspective. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra could not publicly discuss the trade after the game because it hasn’t been finalized.
Besides Butler, injured wing Josh Richardson was the only other Heat player traded; he was dealt to Detroit.
In Wiggins, 29, the Heat gets a skilled small forward to replace Butler. The 6-7 Wiggins -- who is averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 37.9 percent on threes — has two guaranteed seasons remaining after this one, at $28.2 million and a $30.1 million player option in 2026-27.
“Naturally we’ve been linked because over 10 years ago we were both traded for each other,” Love said. “Him and I have been very friendly throughout. So it will be actually good to have that full circle moment come to fruition.
“I know what type of a guy he is and what he’s capable of. So I think not only is he going to add to what we do on the floor, but off the floor, as well. He is a Heat guy.
“He feels like that, he plays both sides of the ball. When he’s engaged and playing hard and he’s healthy, I mean talent wise there’s not many out there like him. So I think he’s also a selfless player. A guy that wants to win, a guy that has won at the highest level, has been around some of the greatest players to ever play this game. I think it’s a natural fit for him.”
In Tucker, a 6-5 forward, the Heat took back a familiar face who was a key part of a Heat team that lost to Boston in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. Tucker averaged 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds as a Heat starter that season.
Tucker, 39, is making $11.5 million this season in the final year of a three-year contract. He appeared in 28 games for the Clippers last season, but lost his rotation spot and mutually agreed to stay away from the team this season. He was traded last week to Utah.
The Heat tried to offload Anderson to Toronto, but that deal reportedly fell through, and he will remain with Miami unless he can be moved before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
The 6-9 Anderson started only three of 39 appearances for the Warriors this season and has started 307 of 689 career games, with averages of 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds. Anderson, 31, is a career 47.4 percent shooter and 34 percent on threes (285 for 839).
Anderson is due $9.2 million next season, but his $9.7 million salary in 2026-27 is not guaranteed.
By not moving Anderson, the Heat is now $7.8 million above the luxury tax line and $3.1 million above the first apron. Miami could attempt to climb below that threshold by offloading money, if possible, before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.
“I think the potential additions we may have, I think it could end up being a great thing for us,” Love said. “Not just in the long term, I think that’s a big part of the reason that the front office did that. But certainly in the short term it feels that way, as well.”
Nikola Jovic said he will miss Butler, who was fond of the young forward.
“My brother, man,” Jovic said. “I’m going to miss him, for sure. I think a lot of guys here will. He’s someone who did a lot for this franchise. He’s somebody who helped me so much. I’m not sure if I would be here right now if it wasn’t for him. I’m sad and happy in the same moment. I’m sad I’m not going to see him anymore. But I’m really happy he got what he wanted. That bag is really big and I’m happy for him. I just wish him luck and I hope I’ll see him soon.”
Butler immediately received a two-year, $112 million extension from Golden State.
Herro said a positive of moving past this is “clarity is what everyone is kind of searching for in the season. Our biggest obstacle we have to get over is consistency. Being able to know your role, night in and night out, without injuries, is part of clarity, part of consistency. We’re trying to stack good days. We’ll find consistency in that.”
Jovic said Spoelstra did not inform players of the trade at halftime.
“Actually his speech before halftime, he already thought we knew but we didn’t,” Jovic said. “He didn’t say anything else. I feel like we stayed locked in. Of course, it was big news and of course it distracts you. But in terms of the game, I think we stayed locked in. That’s very important because we had to win this one. After a tough loss last game, we really had to win this one.”
Bam Adebayo said he never checks his phone at halftime but got word of the trade from others in the locker room.
“When you hear news like that, it’s a shift, because it’s like ‘wow,’ Adebayo said. “We still have a game to worry about. I was worried about getting the win.”
Adebayo did not speak about Butler’s exit, and Herro was limited in his comments, because the team preferred nobody comment about a trade that hasn’t been announced.
During the game, a fan behind the Heat bench told Love what Miami was getting in the trade.
“Somebody told me it on the bench during the game,” Love said. “I kind of turned around, it caught my ear. So of course, I wanted to know all the info. Because I’ve been talking to these guys about how it all works with aprons and the new CBA and everything. So I wanted to try and even understand where that could work.”
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 11:28 PM.
