Veteran swingman Jimmy Butler is expected to make his debut in a Miami Heat uniform on Tuesday in the team's matchup at home with the Atlanta Hawks.
The 30-year-old four-time All-Star missed the Heat's first week of games due to the birth of his daughter. The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman tweeted today that Butler is expected to play against the Hawks while shooting guard Dion Waiters and forward James Johnson are out.
Heat update:
— Jimmy Butler is expected to play Tuesday. Not on Heat list of unavailable
— Dion Waiters and James Johnson are both listed as out for Tuesday. That could change Tuesday.
— Derrick Jones Jr listed as out due to groin.
— Kelly Olynyk probable, with quad contusion.— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 28, 2019
Butler was acquired by the South Beach franchise in the offseason in a four-team sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, who sent the veteran guard/forward for Miami 25-year-old wing Josh Richardson. The Heat also sent center Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trailer Blazers in the deal and received big man Meyers Leonard. Butler, a Chicago Bulls former first-round pick from the 2011 NBA Draft, is inked to a four-year deal worth $140 million.
With Butler out, Miami has zoomed to 2-1 record thanks to head coach Erik Spoelstra's clever move to make Justise Winslow the team's starting “point-forward.” Additionally, undrafted free agent guard Kendrick Nunn has had an incredible out-of-the-gates start for the Heat, leading the team in scoring at 22.3 points per game.
Winslow, 23, is having a great fifth season so far orchestrating the Heat offense, averaging 19.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 40.0 minutes per game.
With Butler being the flagship offseason acquisition, there is plenty of anticipation for the former Most Improved Player's debut for the Heat. He'll get to face off with the Hawks' Trae Young, the NBA's most recent player of the week.