NBA insider sheds light on Jimmy Butler's failed talks with Micky Arison and 6x All-Star's uncertain Heat future
The Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat saga has taken another turn as his desire to leave Miami remains unfulfilled. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne disclosed details of the talks the six-time All-Star had with Miami Heat owner Micky Arison to resolve his trade dispute.
Ramona wrote that Jimmy Butler's meeting with Micky Arison didn't achieve its intended goal. She shared that the organization is downplaying the perceived tension between Butler and the Heat.
"It was a futile effort. Starving this situation of oxygen was going to work for only so long, and the issues that caused the relationship to disintegrate remain. Butler still wants to be traded. The Heat haven't found a trade they like for him."
Butler's trade saga with the Heat has been a wild ride as he made it clear he wants out of Miami. Although it seems that the team is trying to accommodate his request, it is doing so at its own pace.
Butler is serving a seven-game suspension for what was termed "conduct detrimental to the team."
Shelburne disclosed that Heat sources expect him to return against the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
However, there is a sense of anxiety among the Heat ranks about what could happen if he returns at the end of his suspension. Ramona also shared that he could create a toxic environment in the locker room with his behavior, with the memory of his time with the Timberwolves in 2018 still fresh in the minds of fans and analysts.
Jimmy Butler attracting interest from Milwaukee Bucks, sources say
Jimmy Butler is attracting interest from the 2021 NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, as per NBA insider Brett Siegel. Siegel claimed that the Bucks are willing to trade Khris Middleton to facilitate the move.
“Amid rumors surrounding Butler and the Bucks possibly emerging as the main dark horse to land him in a trade deadline blockbuster, the one thing that everyone needs to be aware of is that Milwaukee is a second apron team. Would the Heat want Middleton an aging player with numerous injury concerns through the years, as the centerpiece of a Butler trade?"
If the rumors are true and Butler ends up at the Bucks, he could form a deadly partnership with Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Although losing veteran Middleton would be a huge loss for the Bucks, his inconsistency and injuries this season have been a cause of concern.