Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat notes and summary of Jimmy Butler’s introductory presser with the Warriors

Andrew Wiggins now wears #22 for the Miami Heat after requesting it. This highlights how badly the relationship ended with Jimmy Butler, who wore the same digits since 2019 until the trade on Wednesday. If Butler was concerned with his number, he should’ve handled his exit with more class.

While Wiggins may not have the same offensive takeover ability as Butler, he is a better defender at this stage in his career and is willing to guard the other team’s best perimeter scorer. Butler took a break on that.

Despite the Warriors having more star power, they are older, smaller, and less athletic. In Miami, Wiggins can be a part of one of the league’s most strict defenses for the rest of the year, next to Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Kel’el Ware and the newly acquired Davion Mitchell.

On top of that, he should fit like a glove next to Tyler Herro on offense. The latter is guarded like a first option and good on drive-and-kick plays, too. As a result, Wiggins will be the recipient of lots of cuts and open jumpers. If Adebayo continues his strong play since Jan. 27, he will be another tool to take pressure off of Wiggins, especially when facing up in the half-court or when he wants to initiate up the floor.

More on Adebayo’s return to All-Star form:

In his last five games, Adebayo’s mojo has returned, averaging 23.6 points on a 62.2 effective field goal percentage, with 10.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and four turnovers per game. In this span, most of his shots have come within 5 feet and he has made 85.7% of those. Second on the diet are the looks from 15-19 feet away and those are falling at 68.8%.

His foot speed on defense is as quick as ever, and with more playing time next to Ware, he can harass smaller players on the perimeter. This also lets him come in as the weak side shot blocker with Ware being the low man.

Butler’s introductory presser with the Warriors: 

General manager  Mike Dunleavy Jr. started thanking the players he cast off for he who was not content and said his team “needed to hit the ground running.”

Butler said, “I’m so happy to be playing basketball again, honestly. But for an organization like this one with some of the hellafied talent that we have. I will do my best to do what everybody wants and that’s to win a championship.” So far his only regret in all of this is that he can’t frequent his newly established coffee shop in Miami.

Halfway through the press conference, he said he didn’t have too many bad things to say about the Heat, and that they gave him an opportunity and he did his job at the highest level.

 But he wouldn’t answer what made him want to leave: money. He bounced around it, saying, “I don’t know. Maybe just a lot of talking back-and-forth, and sooner or later, the talking‘s gotta stop.” All the Heat did was try to hold him accountable.

He was later probed on how big a factor the extension was, BSing, “I’m not gonna say that was a big part… I think the biggest part was getting me able to play basketball again.”

By the end, Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill asked him if he felt wanted in Miami. Butler answered, “Maybe at times.”

In directing himself to Phoenix and the Warriors being a second option, Butler responded it was a great choice and skirted accountability because nothing had come directly from his mouth. In reality, he wanted Phoenix badly.

Regarding what appealed to him about playing with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Butler said the cliche, “That they always play winning basketball, and they’ll do whatever it takes to win.” He also added that “they can teach me a whole lot.”

Mr. Uncountable says he will fit right in. Green’s madness might keep him in check for a while. Another reporter doubled down on this question, and he also repeated the usual yada, yada about wanting to win a championship.

He was asked “where are you at mentally,” as if it matters when he quit on his former team while making $48 million. He’s doing fine because he didn’t sacrifice anything besides his reputation, which he doesn’t care about.

He expects to play Saturday in Chicago against his other former team. How long will it be before Butler realizes that Herro has been better than Curry this season? The Heat’s first reunion with Butler is on March 25th in Miami.

It likely wasn’t his intention because he was asked about former comments, but he will probably cut Heat fans further after saying, “I know that I have my joy back now…”