The NBA trade season begins Dec. 15, when newly signed players can be traded, but that means Shams Charania is working overtime. The longtime NBA insider is in his first season at ESPN as the replacement for legendary Adrian Wojnarowski and reported earlier this week that his first big name would hit the market.
According to Charania, the Miami Heat have heard offers for veteran star Jimmy Butler, and Butler's team is reportedly interested in acquiring him. dallas mavericks. houston rockets, golden state warriorsor phoenix suns. Mr Charania claimed his report was from Mr Butler's attorney, Barney Lee. The only problem is that Lee said the report was a complete fabrication.
Lee hit back at Charania on Wednesday night with a series of Twitter posts criticizing the reporter's credibility. Charania fired back Thursday during an appearance on ESPN's First Take, calling his report “1,000 percent true.”
Here's Lee's post questioning Charania's report on Butler:
Now, listen. I gave you a pass because I was busy yesterday, but if you don't stop putting my name in your complete and utter bullshit, you know I'm usually not worth your time. Because… (continued) https://t.co/1KOXza9kUI
— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024
I'm a middle-aged father, so I don't know what I would do, but I do know that it would be seriously disgusting. The world…this is all a fabrication. I have never done anything reported by that “journalist” and honestly it does nothing for me or the position I represent. https://t.co/1KOXza9SKg
— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024
Shams, this is your chance to say bad things about me. “If I let Chat GPT write a tweet, I became an old-school Peter Vesey.'' (Shams Peter was a writer in the 90s) became a trendsetter. Invent something new. I got hacked. Please continue everything. thank you. https://t.co/1KOXza9kUI
— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024
These are powerful words from Mr. Lee. It's odd that Charania would put Lee's name directly on the report if the agent was going to shoot him down so hard, but sometimes that happens in games.
These Butler rumors didn't come out of nowhere at all. Heat's top executives Pat Riley publicly challenged Butler after last seasonsaid Starr needed to “keep his mouth shut” about other teams and openly wondered if Butler was durable enough to stay on the floor. Butler, 35, has a player option after this season and is seeking a new long-term contract.
Charania appeared on ESPN on Wednesday and reported that Butler never requested a trade. ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst added that Butler's hope is to re-sign with the Heat.
“I think Jimmy Butler's hope is to sign an extension in Miami. … Pat Riley came out at the end of last season and said that's not what the Heat are doing.” @WindhorstESPN Jimmy Butler's future with the Miami Heat pic.twitter.com/bCZz4EYovv
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 12, 2024
This clarification wasn't necessarily necessary, but Shams just said on First Take that Jimmy Butler did not request a trade.
Windhorst added that Butler's hope is to sign a max contract with the Heat.
Both admit that the contract is weighing heavily on them…
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) December 12, 2024
Charania subsequently defended his report. He said there is support for reports that Butler would like to be traded to the Rockets, Mavs, Warriors or Suns if traded.
Below is a clip defending Shams' report.
The feud between Jimmy Butler's agents Bernie Lee and Shams Charania continues this morning.
Shams tripled the Butler Report with Stephen A. Smith in his First Take appearance.
“I stand by my reporting 1000%.” pic.twitter.com/Ojj6pztxOU
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) December 12, 2024
Butler's player option for next year is $52.4 million. Charania's initial report said Butler would opt out and seek a long-term contract. There are very few teams with salary cap room next summer, so it's unlikely he will get anywhere near that salary with a new contract without a trade.
The Heat have been a middling team in the Eastern Conference since their Cinderella run to the 2023 NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed. Miami has been a little more consistent lately, currently 12-10 overall and holding onto the East playoff seed. The Heat are having a great year with Tyler Herro, but Bam Adebayo has been playing below his usual standards. Butler was good when he was on the floor.
Deals are certainly going to be difficult this year because of the new CBA. That's because hard caps and luxury tax penalties are imposed throughout the deal. The Heat don't want to tie Butler to big money if he can't perform even better in the playoffs. Butler is hoping to secure what could very well be the last major contract of his career.
Butler trade rumors persist. No matter how things play out, Charania and Lee's feud will be a notable subplot until Butler's future is resolved.
