Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Christmas Day. Charania's story is nuanced, saying Butler hasn't “officially requested” a trade but is considered “ready to leave.”
This follows a report two weeks ago via Charania that the Heat were “open to accepting” an offer for six-time All-Star Butler and that Butler was hoping to receive the offer. dallas mavericks, houston rockets, golden state warriors or phoenix suns. In response to this specific story, Butler's agent Bernie Lee sent an angry message online calling the report “complete and utter bullshit.”
If all of this seems a little confusing, it should also feel familiar. ESPN's top NBA newsbreakers have a history of dropping bombshell reports on Christmas Day.
Christmas 2022, recently retired Adrian Wojnarowski At the time, Philadelphia 76er James Harden said he was considering returning to the Houston Rockets.. Harden eventually left the team. 76erswhen he was forced to play for the LA Clippers on a trade request, not for Houston.
A year later, on Dec. 25, Woj reported that Kevin Durant, midway through his first full season with the Phoenix Suns, was “frustrated” after an underwhelming 14-15 start. It was reported that And this was a situation that the organization had to manage. Durant responded to Woj's report: Instagram comments @_fatcheezesaid, “People can openly lie and make up things about my name.” Durant is still with the Suns, and the team has an overwhelming record this season with 14 wins and 14 losses.
When you put all of this side by side, it's not like Woj, and now Charania, are inaccurately reporting on trade gossip to draw attention to the Christmas game. But there's a consistent pattern of big news being announced on the day of the NBA's biggest regular-season game.
Our own Ricky O'Donnell does a great job of explaining why the Jimmy Butler situation is so difficult not only for the Heat to navigate, but for any team looking to capture the six-time All-Star. Butler is 35 years old and has a $52 million player option at the end of this season, but Charania said Butler has informed teams that Butler is opting out to become a free agent. Adjusting salaries is much more difficult under the new CBA. And the team Butler wants to go to, the favorite to win, is pressed tighter against the second apron than the 17 Christmas cookies I've eaten.
The Heat are 14-13 this season, with Butler contributing 18.5 points, 4.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds. Despite Butler's advanced age, he is shooting 58 percent from 2-point range this season, a career high. The big question is, will the Heat value players who can help them this season (which the Heat usually do) or go with a one-season tank with a strong draft class and a pick returning from the OKC Thunder? I mean, did you decide to do it? If you win the lottery.
