Amidst the rumors of Jimmy Butler getting traded from the Miami Heat, ESPN analyst and broadcaster Brian Windhorst shared his take on the matter.
In one of the editions of “First Take,” Windhorst discussed the idea of Butler getting traded, with the Heat forward even having a list of teams he wants to go to. As he sees it, the reality may be that Butler may want to stay in Miami.
“I think Jimmy Butler’s preference would be to sign an extension in Miami,” Windhorst said, adding that the player wanted a deal finalized last summer. “Pat Riley came out at the end of last season and said that’s not what the Heat were doing and they still haven’t. I think (Butler) would like to stay (in Miami).”
“I think Jimmy Butler’s preference would be to sign an extension in Miami. … Pat Riley came out at the end of last season and said that’s not what the Heat were doing.” 😳 @WindhorstESPN on Jimmy Butler’s future with the Miami Heat 👀 pic.twitter.com/bCZz4EYovv
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 12, 2024
Earlier this year, the Miami Heat team president was quoted highlighting the importance of availability in discussing contract extensions. While Windhorst did not cite this as the reference to his statement, this falls in the same line of reasoning was making.
“(An extension is) a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley said, back in May this year. “That’s the truth.”
Earlier this month, Ruley once more touched on the complexity of trading Heat team members. He admitted that with the team being a business, there are certain considerations that make trading hard for him.
“Trading players is hard for me,” he said. “It’s part of the business. Free agents go to other places, that’s the world we live in. But you’ve got to have the first two. You gotta be sincere, you gotta be confident, and be as reliable as you can.”
Pat Riley on trading players 👀 pic.twitter.com/B8cbbEWuog
— The OGs Show (@theOGsShow) December 2, 2024
Jimmy Butler on Agent vs Reporter Argument: “I F***ing Love It”
With reports of Jimmy Butler looking at the Phoenix Suns as a desirable location for a trade making the buzz in the rumor mill, his agent, Bernie Lee, called out the source of the report and called the news a piece of “made-up bull****.”
The original news of Butler putting the Suns on his list of desired teams came from ESPN reporter and analyst Shams Chanaria, who cited Butler’s agent as the source of the information.
However, Lee went to social media to deny that such information came from him, criticizing the journalism of Shams along the way.
Jimmy Butler found the exchange between the two funny, to which he simply responded: “I f***ing love it.”
Jimmy Butler on his agent Bernie Lee going back and forth with Shams Charania. #HeatNation
“I f***ing love it, I’m all for the back and forth…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/JD5zGOR4NT
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) December 13, 2024
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
