For the Miami Heat, the last few years were defined as much by internal drama as by their on-court performance.
At the center of the storm was six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, whose clashes with teammates, coaches, and management repeatedly overshadowed his contributions on the hardwood.
His suspension on January 27, following a series of disciplinary issues, marked the breaking point in the franchise’s six-year relationship with the forward.
Now, with Butler having found a new home with the Golden State Warriors, his former teammates are left to move on.
One of them, Goran Dragic, who spent several seasons in the Miami locker room alongside Butler, recently shared his perspective. While Dragic respects Butler as a competitor and even as a friend, he believes the team will ultimately benefit from his departure.
On the 104.3 WQAM podcast, Dragic was asked whether the Heat could finally breathe easier without Butler’s drama dominating the locker room.
His answer was candid: “I really believe they can because it’s really tough to play when you have drama around yourself. The situation that happened last year with Jimmy, it didn’t help nobody. It didn’t help Jimmy, it didn’t help the team.”
Goran Dragic says calm will help Miami thrive
The Slovenian guard did not hold back in describing how the constant turbulence weighed on the players’ ability to prepare.
“I definitely believe that this year there is going to be more calmness. Spo [Erik Spoelstra] is going to be more calm, the coach is going to be more calm. They are going to have time to prepare the team. When you are calm, you perform better,” Dragic explained.
Butler’s career has been a whirlwind of brilliance mixed with controversy. He has guided multiple teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Heat, to levels of success they have struggled to replicate without him.
Yet in nearly every stop, his demanding personality and frequent disputes with coaches and teammates created friction. In Miami, he missed nine of twelve games before his suspension sealed his fate.
Despite his reputation, Butler remains one of the most competitive players in the NBA. His arrival in Golden State offers him another chance to channel his intensity into winning, especially alongside a championship-tested core.
For Miami, however, the reset could be exactly what they need.
The Heat enter this season with a younger roster and a chance to re-establish a more stable environment. Bam Adebayo is expected to take on a bigger leadership role as the team’s anchor, while Tyler Herro faces pressure to finally step into the role of primary scorer.
The Eastern Conference remains unpredictable, leaving room for Miami to surprise if they can find consistency without Butler’s looming presence.
For Dragic, the hope is simple: “This year it will be calmer.” And for the Heat, calm might be the missing ingredient they need to rediscover their edge.
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