Jimmy Butler’s future with the Miami Heat has come into question and the six-time All-Star didn’t help mitigate the ongoing speculation Tuesday.
Butler, who’s expected to decline his player option after the season, was rumored to want out of Miami. Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley released a statement claiming the franchise wouldn’t be trading Butler.
So, when Butler was asked whether or not a trade remained on his mind, he shared a not-so-clear response that only inflated the lack of clarity.
“That’s a good question. Who knows? I don’t,” Butler told reporters at practice. “But right now I’m here so I’m gonna make the most of it. I am gonna compete, and I am going to win. And that’s all that I’ve got. It’s a lot of talk. And it is a lot of noise, which I’m cool with. It doesn’t bother me at all. I love that. I thrive in that. But it keeps all y’all wondering. It does. It keeps the world wondering, to where you’ve got to keep coming back and asking me about something. I like it. It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that.”
Butler has spent the past six seasons as the ringleader of Miami’s underdog operation, leading the organization to four Eastern Conference finals appearances and two trips to the NBA Finals. None saw the Heat prevail and with Butler aging, Miami has slipped to the current seventh seed in the East. His contract is also expiring, so perhaps the time has come for the sides to split.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets all have drawn interest from Butler. And Butler’s 18.5 points per game on 55.2% shooting from the field suggest that there’s plenty left in the tank for the 14-year veteran to provide anyone in the league willing to strike a deal with Miami.
