NBA Rumors: Heat Need To Secure Top Star's Roster Sport; Four-Year Max Extension Looms

The Miami Heat faltered this NBA season after churning out an impressive run during the regular season.

At the front of it all is Jimmy Butler, someone who has two years left in his current deal at South Beach. But the last year in his deal has a player option worth $37.6 million.

Given that scenario, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald suggests that there is a chance that the 31-year-old NBA star could haggle for a long-term deal this offseason.

Seeing that he already has 10 years of experience, the five-time All-Star could get a max contract higher at 35% of the cap.

Furthermore, the cap is projected to be at $112.4 million this offseason.

A better glimpse of what the contract would be for Butler can be seen here. His new deal could see him start at 35% and then increase by 8% in the succeeding years.

It would wipe out the option year in Butler’s contract where he would be paid $40.5 million by the 2022-23 NBA season. In all, he would make $217 million over five years.

Butler has come out of his shell, and the 2019-20 NBA season proved he is a legitimate star in the league.

However, the 2015 NBA Most Improved Player is not getting any younger and has been ravaged by injuries. He will turn 32 this coming September.

Having these in mind, Butler may be thinking about his future as early as now. He seems to have found a home with the Heat, and it would be fitting for him to get that max deal which would likely be his last taste of a long-term, good-paying contract.

From there, the chance of him getting another long-term deal is a bit murky.

Hence, it all boils down to what Heat president Pat Riley has in mind.

Some feel that the Heat should be careful on what their next steps are when it comes to dealing with Butler.

Butler is a proven commodity, but the price to pay is something that Riley and other teams will have to seriously consider.