Miami Heat: Does Pat Riley have the right approach to 2021 offseason?

How Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will diminish the value of offseason acquisitions

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Miami would allow these players to spend some time as a primary ball-handler due to the weaknesses of their star, Jimmy Butler. Butler has struggled shooting the basketball. Before 2019, he shot 37.5 percent outside of the restricted area on 9.7 shots per game.

After 2019, he saw a significant decline in his outside shooting, converting 34.5 percent of his shots outside of the restricted area on 8.1 attempts. The fall is due to a sprained right wrist that he suffered in January of 2019.

Butler’s outside shooting struggles limit the opportunities for other players to be in the role of ball handler because if the team puts Jimmy Butler off the ball, opponents will leave him open as they know he struggles shooting. If opponents leave Butler wide open, it increases the likelihood of other players seeing an uptick in their contested shots.

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A hypothetical solution would be to have Jimmy Butler moving off the ball: i.e., cutting. Sadly, Butler only moves off the ball 6.5 percent of the time as he has averaged 1.3 cuts per game since 2015. As a result, the easiest way for Miami to be successful is by having Butler as the primary ball-handler. Consequently, these players on high salaries would have to be off the ball.

Butler’s deficiencies suggest that Riley should look at cheaper floor-spacers. For instance, Devonte’ Graham has converted 42 percent of his catch and shoots on 3.3 attempts. Catch and shoots have been responsible for 45.8 percent of his shots, as he shot 36.7 percent from behind the arc on 7.2 attempts.

Another target that the team should look at is Otto Porter Jr., who has converted 41.8 percent of his catch and shoots on 3 attempts. Catch and shoots have been responsible for 90.9 percent of his total threes as he shot 40.2 percent from behind the arc on 3.3 attempts. These players are projected to make less than 15 million dollars per year on their next contract.

In conclusion, Jimmy Butler’s deficiencies suggest that Pat Riley is taking the wrong approach by trying to acquire big fishes this off-season. The team would be better off going after cheaper players as Butler’s teammates will most likely be required to play floor-spacer.