According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, not even a new extension worth a lot of money could convince Jimmy Butler to stay with the Miami Heat.
This “feud” has been growing for months, with tensions reaching a point where nothing can heal it.
“From my understanding, even if the Heat were to offer him an extension right now, that’s not something he wants to do,” said Charania. “That’s not something he would do. The last straw really came after Wednesday night’s game against New Orleans. A victory where in the 24 hours after, from what I understand, the Heat made implication to people around Jimmy Butler that he wasn’t playing his hardest. What we saw transfer last in the postgame was essentially his reaction to that.”
Butler has made it clear that he wants to play anywhere else that isn’t Pat Riley’s team. He was supposed to give a list of teams he would play for, but never submitted it.
Riley was asked by the veteran talent to get more quality players in a Heat jersey, but it never came to reality. This was seen with the likes of Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Kyrie Irving.
Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in acquiring the 35-year-old.