Shams: Jimmy Butler open to being traded to Rockets Mavericks or Warriors

The hit piece is out from MIA’s local beat writer. Ira Winderman


“When it comes to much of what the Heat likely cited in their paperwork to the league office about “conduct detrimental to the team,” there for years had been tacit acceptance of much of the same.

Jimmy Butler largely came and went as he saw fit. Like several star players, he had his own accommodations and travel arrangements on the road. There was no hiding of that or from that, as Butler’s Instagram account chronicled.

His appearances at shootarounds were on his own timetable.

And when it came to the timing on his return from absences, again on his schedule, with very public workout sessions either before road games or on the Heat’s practice court.

When there was winning, barely a word, even with the coaching staff and management more than aware of the perception from teammates.

Because that was the approach dating to success that started in Butler’s first Heat season, that march to the NBA Finals in 2020 in the Disney pandemic bubble, Butler draped to exhaustion alongside a sidelined barrier.

Another Finals appearance would come in 2023, with Butler driving a shorthanded roster.

All told, during his five seasons leading into this abbreviated run, three visits to the Eastern Conference championships.

And when the going wasn’t good, when there was disappointment from Butler about the roster composition, an $85 million contract was written to bring close friend Kyle Lowry, a godparent to Butler’s daughter, aboard in 2021.

Because all Jimmy Butler ever wanted was more.

Something the Heat gave to him over and over and over.

… and then he wanted more in terms of a contract extension.

Suddenly, that’s when Pat Riley not only drew a line, but let Butler know it was a line drawn in quicksand, leading to a sinking feeling since last spring.”

 

Don't try to talk sense. every time we lose these guys get more and more desperate. And so the say desperate things and become rude when you speak the truth.

 

You're mistaken they are gonna get exactly what they want or he won't be traded. All this talk about him is useless. They planned for this. He will be too expensive for us. He's not coming here mark my words.

 

Ime will not want any of that.

 

To all the people who want Butler, try to remember how you felt when Harden held this team hostage with trade demands and a toxic attitude. I remember hating the NBA at the moment for allowing the players to make the rules of competition. Jimmy is essentially the next level of FVV. FVV took us from the bottom to middle of the road. Jimmy will maybe take us to the 2nd round, at best WCF, but just like FVV, his contract will ultimately be a liability towards winning a ring, likely as soon as next season.

Hopefully OKC gets impatient and blows assets on going all in this season, which they should if it makes them better. This would allow the Rockets to be first in line on the next star, maybe Edwards........maybe Jokic.....maybe it's someone really cool I don't even know about.

 

And yet (sadly) he has the 2nd safest handle on the team, and is also blessed with court vision.

Trading FVV without bringing back a PG would be a disaster

 

You’re such a hateful bi+ch. quite sad lol.

 

Good!!!

 

Oh, the only way I would trade for him is if it costs almost nothing AND it's understood from the beginning that it's just a half season rental then he declines his player option and seeks his fortune in free agency.

 

Over 1st apron teams: Denver, Miami, Knicks, Philly, Lakers

MIA can shed Butler, and they'll go back to being cap flexible. So expiring contracts like ours could actually be very enticing, if they don't want to be on the hook for Jimmy's next year contract.

Double apron teams: Boston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, and Phoenix.

Normally if a team is contending, being an apron team is fine, but the condition is supposed to be deep playoffs runs. No surprise that this season, Philly and Phoenix are coming up short.

----
Not necessarily advocating for Jimmy, but from Heat org perspective, there's strong incentive to go under first apron, they could easily re-tool again, and very quickly. This is why Pat is giving Jimmy's agent Bernie Lee the cold shoulder.

 

Y’all are right. Miami will be just fine without Jimmy. He’s not that important or impactful.

 

I still remember folks around here didn't want Dillon Brooks, Jimmy is Dillon Brooks on steroids.....

 

It’s a pretty gross group of players, but they get a FRP out of it, so I would call that a win.

 

What is the draft pick offer? The only way I trade for Jimmy is FVV and a protected Rocket pick, not Phoenix pick. If they want Landale or Tate, I'll throw them in as well. I would only do that if Jimmy committed to turning down his player option.

 

Shanghai Sharks +50000
Guangodong Tigers +50000
FC Barcelona +50000
New Orleans Pelicans +2800
Orlando Magic +2500
Cleveland Cavaliers +2000
Los Angeles Clippers +1400
Sacramento Kings +1200
Memphis Grizzlies +1000
Phoenix Suns +800
Los Angeles Lakers +800
Dallas Mavericks +500
Brooklyn Nets +400
Golden State Warriors +350
Houston Rockets +250

 

The offer I saw was Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, John Konchar and a 2026 first-round pick for Jimmy Butler.

FVV is a better player than all of that flotsam and jetsam that the Grizzlies are offering, and FVV swaps out the player option Butler has with a team option that gives the Heat a lot more control and flexibility. It also doesn't have the additional $18M carrying over into 26-27 that the Grizzlies offer has. Not sure if all of that would be enough for them to forego that FRP and maybe accept a couple of seconds (or better yet, straight up swap).

 

Saw the Sharks on the list. Got curious. Looks like Kenney Lofton is playing over there.

 

I am not sure that the current Butler is a better player than the current Brooks

 

Hmmm.. the team with "no interest" has the best odds.

 

I thought of Godzilla and Sumo jokes but my uncultured ass has nothing for China.

He doubles as Kung Fu Panda or a surveillance balloon on the weekends?