4 May 9-15, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ MIAMI NOT SO HOT MIAMI HEAT FACE OFFSEASON DILEMMAS AFTER EARLY PLAYOFF EXIT. BY RYAN YOUSEFI A Miami Heat season seemingly dead on arrival is now offi- cially deceased. The Boston Celtics exacted revenge for last season’s play- off defeat by dismantling the Miami Heat 118- 84 on May 1, concluding what can only be deemed one of the sleepiest and most forget- table postseason runs in Heat history. With key players like Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier sidelined by injuries, the Heat were dead to rights all series long, mainly be- cause the available players — notably Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin — lacked standout performances outside a miracle Game 2 ef- fort. Additional injuries to Duncan Robinson and Jaime Jaquez contributed to the Heat’s inability to make a deep playoff run. It would be nice to say the Heat went down with a fight, but in reality, only Bam Adebayo did so. Bam led Miami with 23 points, but the team’s overall performance was lackluster. They converted only 3 of 29 shots from beyond the arc. To sum up the Heat’s playoff exit, Miami was likely toast even if everything went right, but, in fact, so much went utterly wrong. And now they face an offseason in which key play- ers could part ways with the team — yes, even Jimmy Butler. Hold on to your butts, Heat fans. The offsea- son rumor mill is about to be hotter than ever. With so much uncertainty, the Heat’s future hinges on at least three pressing questions. Will Pat Riley Return? Pat Riley will be 80 years old next season. It’s fair to ask if yet another team-retooling is in the cards for a man who, at any moment, could easily retire on a beach in California somewhere and spend his days driving classic cars rather than dealing with Heat fans on Twitter calling him washed up. For Riley, nothing is left to accomplish: He’s an NBA legend. It comes down to whether he’s simply uninterested in Early Bird specials and afternoon naps. But to be fair, the way the Heat roster is currently con- structed, it’s highly likely he has already been doing both of those activities for years. Does Jimmy Butler Get a Contract Extension? Butler, who will turn 35 next season, signed a three-year $146.4 million contract extension that kicked in prior to the 2023 season. He will make $48.8 million in 2024-25 and then has a $52.4 million player option for the 2025- 26 season. According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, Butler may seek a contract extension to rival the five-year, $304 million extension Jaylen Brown signed with the Bos- ton Celtics this summer. Are you picking up the problem here? But- ler put up big numbers this season, averaging more than 20 points per game. But he’s a player who put on a lot of miles early in his career for the Chicago Bulls, and there are stretches in the regular season during which he already plays as if he’s 39 years old, taking weeks off and missing games over what might constitute a minor injury for a young player. To extend him until he is literally 39 seems like a risky investment. Ask yourself if the same people who hardballed Dwyane Wade late in his career over a couple of million dollars for a single season will cough up the money mentioned above to Butler. Who Is the Whale? The Miami Heat will be unable to change the course of their franchise with money alone. They’re also short on assets to trade, particu- larly with Tyler Herro again falling short of proving he’s an impact player in the NBA when it matters the most. This offseason, Miami’s clear path to im- provement is to get involved in a messy, drama- filled trade request involving a player such as Kevin Durant or a younger star like Trae Young. Butler is up for a contract extension that could make him the highest-paid player in Miami Heat history. However, committing a substantial portion of their salary cap to But- ler as he advances into his 30s is a gamble that requires careful consideration. Will LeBron James ask the Lakers to sign and trade him to Miami? Does Durant decide to end his career with the Heat and Coach Spo? It will likely take a miracle for the Heat to retool on the fly, and if we’re being honest, nothing short of a major roster overhaul and a lot of luck will put them on the same footing as many emerging NBA teams. | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS Kevin Love of the Miami Heat on the bench during the second quarter of Game 5 in the Heat’s series against the Boston Celtics on May 1, 2024. Photo by Kevin Love/Getty Images ▼ SOUTH FLORIDA PASS FAIL BRIGHTLINE TO ELIMINATE MOST DISCOUNT COMMUTER PASSES. BY ALEX DELUCA S o much for a summer deal. Late last month, Brightline announced that it will stop selling most of its frequent traveler passes in June. The private high-speed rail service says it is trimming down its train-pass options because its cabins keep reaching capac- ity, particularly during peak travel times. The move brings an end to discount ticket packages that many commuters relied upon to travel traffic-free to work in South Florida. On June 1, the recently introduced All Station Shared Pass, SoFlo Shared Pass, and SoFlo Solo Pass will be discontinued. The Miami to Aventura Commuter Pass, which starts at $299 and is valid for 40 rides in 30 days, will remain available in limited quantities under a prior agreement be- tween Brightline and Miami-Dade County. “In recent months, it has become increasingly difficult to accommodate all guests as peak trains are reaching capacity,” Brightline says on its website. “We continue to evaluate the best approach to balance customer demand.” Brightline emphasizes that current passholders can continue to use their train passes until they expire. In place of the old passes, train service says it will be offering a Fixed Rate 10-Ride Pack for sta- tions stretching from West Palm Beach to Miami for $350 for stan- dard seating and $550 for premium seating. A 10-ride pack for stations limited to Brightline’s southern- most leg (Fort Lauderdale to Miami) will be available for $250 and $350 for standard and premium seating, respectively. The 10-ride passes will be valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. The new packages are significantly more ex- pensive per ride than the existing bulk packages. For instance, the soon-to-be-axed SoFlo Solo Pass offers 40 rides in 30 days for $399. Brightline didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The company is offering a complimentary Fixed Rate 10-Ride Pack to current passholders “to thank you for your loyalty.” The elimination of the commuter discounts could mark a major shift in Brightline’s rider de- mographic. Cash-strapped workers with monthly passes who have been rolling through South Florida in upscale Brightline cabins and enjoying food-and-beverage service may now turn to Tri-Rail, which offers $110 monthly passes for stations from West Palm Beach to Miami. Tri-Rail rolled out its down- town transfer to MiamiCentral station in January, offering an al- ternative to the Metrorail connec- tion, which makes several stops from Northside to Overtown be- fore reaching the Government Center station. According to Brightline, the company has worked with the South Florida Regional Transpor- tation Authority to open a new Tri-Rail express route to serve daily commuters between West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and MiamiCentral station. The project, which was recently presented to the Tri-Rail Governing Board, will be up for a vote in May. It could bring to fruition Tri-Rail’s plans to offer one-seat express service to down- town Miami without the need to switch trains. [email protected] Brightline will stop selling most of its discount frequent- traveler passes this summer. Photo by Brightline
