Miami Heat will be facing the Oklahoma City Thunder for an exciting matchup this Friday. Heat’s star forward, Jimmy Butler, keeps fans waiting for his return as he recovers from a right ankle sprain. Miami, currently holding a record of 13-11, will look to regain their momentum after a surprising loss to Detroit.
On the other hand, the Thunder will also try to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in the NBA Cup Final. They are boasting an impressive 21-5 record. In preparation for the game, the Heat have issued their injury report. Fortunately for fans, Jimmy Butler is not listed and is most likely to start against the Thunder. However, Josh Richardson is listed as doubtful with a heel injury.
The injury report also includes some key players: Josh Christopher is out as he is assigned to the G League, while Nikola Jovic (ankle) and Pelle Larsson (ankle) are both marked as questionable. Keshad Johnson, who is also in the G League, is expected to return for Friday night’s game.
Heat injury report for Friday vs. Thunder:
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) December 19, 2024
Out: Josh Christopher (G League).
Doubtful: Josh Richardson (heel).
Questionable: Nikola Jovic (ankle), Pelle Larsson (ankle), Keshad Johnson (G League).
Johnson is expected to return from G League for Friday night's game.
On the Thunder’s side, they also appear to be in good shape, led by star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They have a strong defensive record, allowing only 103.5 points per game. Heat lean heavily on their stars to ignite the offense, and they will try to repeat the same at Kaseya Center.
Also Read: VIDEO: Jimmy Butler Breaks His Silence On Future With Miami Heat Amid Ongoing Trade Rumors
OKC Might Offer A Deal To Jimmy Butler
The Thunder are discussing a trade for Jimmy Butler. Miami is open to offers for 35-year-old Butler, who is putting up good numbers this season with an average of 18.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. With his big $48 million contract ending soon, this could be a good time for the Heat to make a move. The Thunder might see Butler as a key target, and they need to improve their roster for the playoffs.
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Jimmy Butler is a different breed….
— Emo Jimmy (@HeatCulture13) December 19, 2024
If traded, it would be YEARS before we find somebody with his same Mentality 😴 pic.twitter.com/LOfKqekTTP
OKC has the best record in the Western Conference at 20-5 and recently lost the NBA Cup finals. Trading Butler could help the Heat reorganize their team without starting from scratch. If they trade Butler for players like Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso, plus several valuable draft picks, it would give them a chance to bring in young talent and plan for the future.
Joe is a good shooter, Wallace is a promising young player, and Caruso brings experience from winning a championship. This way, even though the Heat currently have a record of 13-10, they could remain competitive while also setting themselves up for success down the road.
Bringing Butler on board could make the Thunder even stronger. He could work well with their superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging over 30 points per game this season.
