While a reporter and his agents are fighting online, Jimmy Butler is just taking things on a lighter note, and even seemingly enjoying the bickering from the two sides.
In a recent press conference, Butler was asked about his take on the online exchange of heated words between his agent, Bernard Lee, and ESPN reporter Shams Chanaria.
Earlier, Chanaria reported that Butler is considering the Phoenix Suns as one of his preferred destinations for a trade, with his agent Lee cited as the source of the information. Lee took the matter to social media and debunked Chanaria’s report, calling the reporter’s statement as “made-up bull****.”
Instead of adding heat to the conversation, Butler simply acknowledges the excitement of witnessing the event unfold and appreciated his agent taking his side.
“I f**king love it. I’m all for the back and forth,” Butler said. “I feel for him [Lee], you know. At least somebody’s sticking up for me.”
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
While trade rumors have been debunked and denied, sources from inside the league do not think that talking to a team or making calls is such a big deal, as it happens all the time in the NBA.
“Everyone knows Jimmy could be available — that was always the case with how things went with his contract,” a league source familiar with the Heat told CBS. “But what constitutes a ‘trade talk’? People call all the time. And usually, they’re told no. Is that ‘trade talk?’ Technically, it is. But there’s levels to it.”
“We have no sense Jimmy wants out, or that we want to trade him,” another source from within Miami told CBS. “But we always listen.”
Jimmy Butler Wants Suns? Suns May Not Want Jimmy Butler
With reports of Jimmy Butler listing the Phoenix Suns as his top destination for a trade, more recent developments on the story suggested that the Phoenix team may not be interested in acquiring Butler at all.
A new report claimed that “the Suns are not currently interested in a Jimmy Butler trade.” More than the concern of who wants who, the more pressing complication is that there are technicalities and other fine print details that may make a potential trade more complicated than it should be.
So far this season, Jimmy Butler is averaging 19 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He had his season-high game during the November 24 game of the Heat against the Dallas Mavericks, where he made 33 points for the team.
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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.
