Clash between Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent, and Shams Charania, ESPN’s NBA insider. During the night, Lee harshly attacked the well-known journalist after the latter published a report according to which Butler had indicated, in addition to the Spurs, Mavs and Warriors, also the Suns as his preferred destination in the event of a trade from Miami. “I am one thousand percent convinced of what I wrote,” Charania said. “It’s fully verified and, as a professional, that’s what I do. This is what I get paid to do, this is what I will do: report truthfully and accurately. That’s what it is, period”.
Charania pointed out that Butler has not asked to be traded, so while the Heat are open to hearing offers, that doesn’t necessarily mean the 35-year-old wing will move during the season. Brian Windhorst of ESPN indeed added: “From what I understand, I believe Jimmy Butler would prefer to sign an extension in Miami,” Windhorst said. “He hoped to do so last summer, but Pat Riley, president of the Heat, said at the end of last season that the Heat did not agree and had not yet made progress in this regard. I think that’s what he would like to do. I think he would like to stay there. But in speaking with league insiders, most executives think if there’s one (big-name) player who could be moved it’s Jimmy Butler. As the trading season basically opens on Sunday, I believe that is why we are seeing an increase in interest. Teams will start talking to each other and players who want to be in comfortable situations with their contracts will start trying to leverage their position. So this is just the beginning of what I think will be very much heard about Jimmy Butler in the coming days and weeks.”
