“The letter of the law states: be professional and do the things that you’re supposed to do. So by the letter of the law, he disobeyed the letter of the law, which shows a little bit of unprofessionalism.” Shaquille O’Neal had this to say as Jimmy Butler was handed his 2nd suspension in the last couple of weeks.
As the season progresses, the veteran has dominated the headlines over his streak of unprofessionalism. It obviously tests the patience of the Heat front office. The tension isn’t dying out anytime soon. Hence, two former players look to give some important advice to the Heat star.
Dwight Howard recently appeared as a guest in Carmelo Anthony’s long-running show. It didn’t take long for the Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat situation to be brought up. Howard stated that certain aspects of the ongoing feud are “funny”. However, “It’s just a bad…. it’s just bad for the youngest to see, it’s bad for the NBA. We don’t need this type of attention.” Carmelo Anthony agreed too. While the Knicks legend felt things were funny initially, he now believes the whole scenario is just “affecting business”. For Anthony, the current need is for the player to get serious about things.
“Even though Jimmy’s a vet you got to have a real conversation with Jimmy, my ni–a, ‘Are you in or are you out?’ Let me know, let me know so I can we….. I’mma work this with you” said the 40-year-old former NBA player. “Everybody’s looking at you now like you affect their business. You are a cancer to the business, not to the team. We know you can hoop, we know you can play, but you are affecting… you are a cancer. You don’t want becoming a cancer… Now the organization looks embarrassed”.
Dwight Howard was asked about an imaginary scenario in which he would consider acquiring Jimmy Butler if he was GM. The 2020 NBA champion clearly stated he had nothing against the Heat star. Despite this, he revealed how he could not sign Butler in a hypothetical scenario unless they had a full-fledged conversation about Butler’s seriousness. Howard revealed, potentially asking him, “What are you trying to accomplish because, you know, I’m trying to take this team to the promised land and I need a true leader. You’re going to be that leader for my team? This is what it’s going to look like.”
All the issues with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat are happening right smack in the middle of an NBA season. By stating “I want my joy back… I want to play with a dominant team” during a presser, the player made it clear his future with the team was at an end. He could have held his head low and waited while the front office looked for a suitable trade. Instead, Butler reportedly engaged in a “continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team”.
This included even missing a team flight! This caused the player to be awarded his second suspension. Later, he skipped practice amidst reports of being removed as a starter. This earned him his third, and an ‘indefinite’, suspension.
Oct 27, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
These actions are not only costing the player financially but the team too. The $4.25 billion franchise is losing games by restricting its star player. Fans would be dissuaded from attending games if Butler was not there to play in them. On top of that, Butler’s rebellious behavior would dissuade other teams from considering taking him in. The Heat could not work out a good trade deal, and Pat Riley’s headache would only increase.
Right now, the Heat needs all the help they can get. After all, if reports are to be believed, two of their best chances have slipped away, or are in the process of doing so.
The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns may have lost interest in a Jimmy Butler acquisition
For the last few weeks, two teams stood out amidst rumors of a Jimmy Butler trade. They were the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. A Suns acquisition would work, as Austin Rivers highlighted, “They’re (Kevin Durant and Devin Booker) going to be happy when they get him”. Brian Windhorst even revealed updates on potential trade discussions, stating “Phoenix has also discussed using the one first-round pick it is still allowed to trade (2031) in various talks around trying to acquire Butler”.
For the Bay Area, securing the veteran forward resolves their need for a good offensive partner for Stephen Curry. It would improve things on the shooting front. However, from the looks of things, any potential interest regarding the player may have closed up.
The Phoenix Suns cannot acquire Butler until they get rid of their small forward, Bradley Beal. But everyone knows he’s under a no-trade clause, and recently refused to be traded to the Chicago Bulls. According to NBA reporter Brett Siegel, this has caused the Suns to look for new targets. As highlighted, “Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanović has emerged as a target for the Suns ahead of the trade deadline, league sources told ClutchPoints”.
As for the Golden State Warriors, senior analyst Kevin O’Conner highlighted “Curry himself has reservations about Butler’s fit in the Warriors’ locker room”. On top of that, it is a sentiment shared by head coach Steve Kerr too! This reluctance supposedly comes from Butler’s problems with the Miami Heat and also his former teams.
The doors are closing for Jimmy Butler. In the limited time he has left, the player can heed the words of Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. He can create a new image for himself. That way, he would get a new home more quickly. On top of that, some pressure from the Heat front office will be lifted too.
The post “You Are A Cancer”: Carmelo Anthony Shames Jimmy Butler For Damaging $4.25-Billion Business As Pat Riley’s Headache Increases appeared first on EssentiallySports.