Around six months after the Miami Heat decided to trade Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, some interesting information has come out regarding a reported broken promise between Butler’s camp and the Heat organization.
Reportedly, Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, promised the Heat that his client would “comport himself well” last season and “never complain about not getting a contract extension.” Of course, Butler’s camp didn’t live up to that promise, as the veteran made it clear that he wished to leave the Heat before the February trade deadline.
“A Heat source said Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, promised Miami that Butler would comport himself well last season and would never complain about not getting a contract extension,” the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson wrote. “That proved to be untrue, leaving the Heat without any bargaining position at the trade deadline. In retrospect, the Heat should have sought that assurance directly from Butler last July.”
The trade drama between the Heat and Butler might’ve become unfixable following Miami’s loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 2. Butler said after the game that he had lost his joy for basketball, and when asked if he could rediscover that joy in Miami, he responded with “probably not.” Later that night, it was reported that Butler had indicated to the Heat that he wanted a trade.
Butler didn’t play all that much with the Heat following his comments about losing his joy for basketball, as he spent the next month or so in and out of the lineup due to suspensions before he was ultimately offloaded to Golden State.
He logged just three appearances in a Heat uniform after the Jan. 2 game and didn’t play particularly well in any of those outings, as he didn’t score more than 18 points in one of those contests.
It’s unfortunate the way Butler’s stint in Miami ended. While the situation left the Heat in a poor bargaining position when they tried to trade him, the saga also marked a bitter end to an otherwise special era.
Butler was key to the Heat qualifying for the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, and he should be viewed as one of the most accomplished players in team history, even if he didn’t help Miami to the ultimate prize. The franchise will now look to get over the hump without him in the coming years.