The Miami Heat are acquiring Jimmy Butler

It took the length of a pregnancy term.

It took lots of lists — most of which were wrong early — about where Jimmy Butler wanted to play.

It took Butler getting traded to Philadelphia, away from Tom Thibodeau.

It took a remarkable farewell season from his buddy Dwyane Wade that impressed Butler mightily.

It took Pat Riley getting back on the beam.

We’ll find out what else it took, other than Josh Richardson, soon.

But for now, we know this:

Jimmy Butler is now the best player on the Miami Heat.

Breaking: The Heat are finalizing a sign-and-trade with the 76ers to acquire Jimmy Butler, league sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/OqBMho2Gys

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2019

He wanted to be here. He didn’t want Houston, even though it was close to home. He didn’t really want LA. He didn’t want to be a third option in Philadelphia.

He wanted to be here.

But the Heat weren’t on Jimmy Butler’s list…

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️😃

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) July 1, 2019

He’s here.

And he’s here for a while, at a rich price, though not for five years at $191 million as it could have been.

Sources: Jimmy Butler is signing a four-year, $142M maximum contract with the Miami Heat.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019

The cost? We’re getting that. But it will definitely include Josh Richardson.

And one more thing:

Josh Richardson was a damn good find, a damn good player and a damn good person for the Miami Heat.

This can't happen if the 40th pick in the draft doesn't become a top-6 player in his draft.

Will be missed.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) July 1, 2019

And we’re hearing the Heat aren’t close to done.

There was always a plan, and a plan after the plan. There was a belief that if Butler wanted to move to Miami, players and money could be moved.

How good will the Heat be?

Hard to say.

But they matter again.

I’ll be on WSVN-7 between 11 and 11:30 p.m. tonight.