Pat Riley has had enough of the Jimmy Butler trade rumors and took matters into his own hands.
A statement was released from the Miami Heat’s social media account on behalf of the team president, making it clear that there is no intention to trade Butler.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
Statement from Pat Riley
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 26, 2024
Butler trade saga
ESPN has reported on multiple occasions that Butler is eager to be traded from Miami to a “win-now contender” while also listing Golden State, Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix as his preferred destinations.
Butler has further stoked the fire by changing his hair color for different games to match those of the aforementioned teams.
The Heat and Butler reached a standstill in contract negotiations last summer, as the franchise was unwilling to offer the extension Butler was hoping to receive. The 35-year-old is earning $48.8M this season and has a player option worth $52.4M next season.
As per what’s been reported, Butler intends on declining the option so he can become an unrestricted free agent in July.
Heat position of strength
Riley is clearly prepared to play hard ball as he knows his team is in a position of strength. Brooklyn is the only team that has enough cap space to sign Butler outright in the off-season and the Heat know Butler’s preference is to join a contender rather than a rebuilding team.
Any other team Butler would want to join requires the Heat’s support as it would necessitate a sign-and-trade scenario. Butler’s clearest path to earning the most money on his next contract is also with Miami.
The Heat are sixth in the East with a 14-13 record on the season heading into Thursday night’s action against the fourth-seeded Orlando Magic (19-12).
