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Miami Heat newcomer Jimmy Butler has done nothing but gush about the organization since he got to South Beach. So it was somewhat surprising to see that he would miss the team's season opener for “personal reasons.”
As it turns out, Butler was taking care of family business. The team announced that Butler will not travel with the team on their upcoming road trip after his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl:
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1187795533416534016
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1187795430349983747
Butler's initial absence created a tenuous feeling of concern. After all, the mercurial All-Star had a tumultuous opening to the 2018-19 NBA season in which he forced a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thankfully for Heat fans, that is far from the case in this instance.
The Heat executed a sign-and-trade to bring the 30-year-old to Miami after he voiced his respect for the organization and Pat Riley this summer.
Miami missed the playoffs last year, but Butler's arrival makes the Heat a wild card. Some executives and analysts have pegged the team to finish as high as third in the Eastern Conference. Others have them falling towards the bottom of the playoff chase.
Regardless, Butler will be the most impactful player on the floor. He can score from a high level and he rebounds well for a two-guard. Butler is also one of the best individual defenders in basketball.
Butler is also the unquestioned leader of this Miami team. The Heat will hope for big leaps from young players like Justise Winslow, Bam Adebayo and rookie guard Tyler Herro, but their success figures to rely on how successful Butler proves to be at building chemistry.
