Heat Trade Veteran Center Amid Jimmy Butler Rumors

The Miami Heat could be on the verge of hitting the reset button after a five-season stretch that saw them reach the NBA Finals twice and get to the verge of an additional appearance.

There has been increasing noise that Jimmy Butler, their leader and best player, will get traded, and Butler reportedly has a list of teams he would prefer to join.

In the meantime, the Heat made a move by agreeing to trade another veteran player.

“The Miami Heat have agreed on a trade to send center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. The Pacers will send a swap of a future second-round pick to the Heat for Bryant, who is trade-eligible on Sunday,” ESPN insider Shams Charania wrote on X.

The Miami Heat have agreed on a trade to send center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers, sources tell ESPN. The Pacers will send a swap of a future second-round pick to the Heat for Bryant, who is trade-eligible on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/7mFjeICgZW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 13, 2024

Bryant is averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game this season, but he has the ability to rebound, finish strong at the rim and occasionally block shots and hit from 3-point range as a backup center.

He will provide some much-needed depth for a Pacers team that is struggling after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Miami has young cornerstone stars in guard Tyler Herro and big man Bam Adebayo, as well as a young contributor in forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

But other than that, they lack viable supporting players, and at age 35, Butler is nearing the downside of his career, if he isn’t there already.

It looks like it is time for Miami to cash out on some of its older players and start to retool with draft picks.

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