“… Human nature kicks in. ‘You don’t want me? I don’t want you.’” Shaquille O’Neal was quite adamant about defending Jimmy Butler when he tried capturing the 6x All-Star’s emotions during his take on Inside the NBA. While he already faced a major backlash from a significant section of fans, now it’s his own Inside the NBA co-host Charles Barkley who seems to disagree with not just Shaq’s chain of thought but everyone else who believes Butler to be right.
The discussion on the Dan Patrick Show wide opened when Charles Barkley faced the question if he would want Jimmy Butler as a teammate. “I would want Jimmy Butler as a teammate. I think he’s a hell of a teammate. But I think Jimmy is misguided,” Chuck said. He further highlighted how players nowadays believe teams owe them a lifetime contract.
The 11x All-Star, however, didn’t just stop at it. He pointed out the flaws in such a belief system. “We paid you $50 million last year, this year and next year. And you gonna be older and you’re in decline anyway,” he said.
That’s where things get tricky for Butler. For the 2024-25 season, he’s set to earn $48.8 million, with that number jumping to $52.4 million in 2025-26. The final year of his deal is a player option, which means he could hit free agency if he feels there’s a long-term contract waiting for him elsewhere.
Now, at 35 years old, Butler is still one of the best two-way players in the league. But here’s the problem: The Heat need to think about their future, and paying an aging star over $50 million per season wasn’t exactly an easy decision. That naturally made Butler a prime trade candidate. And his conduct in the team, as highlighted by Heat from three suspensions for the 6x All-Star has done him no favors. And Charles Barkley realizes this.
“I see fools on TV talking about Jimmy Butler’s right. Jimmy Butler is 100 percent wrong. You think I don’t want to still be playing for the Sixers or the Suns? You get old and they’re not gonna pay you,” Barkley said on the Dan Patrick Show. He used Klay Thompson as an example where the Golden State Warriors, despite winning 4 championships, had to trade him over differences in contract negotiations.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Basketball analyst Charles Barkley on air before the National Championship game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Connecticut Huskies at State Farm Stadium on April 08, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
While Charles Barkley has a point. His words do contradict what his Inside the NBA co-host had to say on NBA on TNT. Admitting that the NBA is also a business of sorts, Shaquille O’Neal highlighted how teams do what’s best for them.
Shaq’s only question is that amid such circumstances, why do players not get to do what they believe is best for them? “I took a lot of flack of so-called sticking up for Jimmy. It’s not I’m sticking up for Jimmy, it’s they get to do what they want to do,” O’Neal said. And it seems Butler has exactly done that. But how did it turn out for him?
Has Jimmy Butler harmed his own future in the league?
There’s no denying that Jimmy Butler has done significant harm to his reputation in recent times. His conduct with Heat management has been no secret. Furthermore, he has caused his own trade market to dry up. Since the 6x All-Star had a player option for next season, he could’ve let teams know that he wouldn’t re-sign them even if traded. And ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes Butler did exactly that with the Golden State Warriors.
The reason, you ask? Jimmy’s reported desire to be a part of the Phoenix Suns. But considering the recent reports that Bradley Beal wants to stick with the Suns, things are not going to be that easy for Jimmy. So in a way, he has done nothing but sorts of cornered himself. Especially considering the Suns might not be able to manage the financial flexibility to land Butler by the trade deadline.
As a result, the 6x All-Star could be sidelined for his remaining season which won’t be good on his resume at 35. So Barkley might have a point after all.
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