"Jimmy Hasn't Even Started" - Buckle Up Because Sources Close To Jimmy Butler Suggests He's Ready To Make Things Even Uglier For The Heat
Carmen Mandato. Getty Images.What, you thought just because Jimmy Butler's suspension has ended and he's off their injury report leading most to believe he's returning to the Heat tonight things would be over?
Far from it. In fact, we're now finally getting to the good stuff. After a supposed meeting between Butler and Heat owner Micky Aronson that was supposed to fix things, it's pretty clear that whatever was said in that meeting only made things worse. I'm sure Butler's camp will leak the details of that convo at some point, but if you are someone who finds themselves tired of this situation, I have bad news for you. You may want to buckle up because things are about to get a whole lot messier
Welcome to the "anonymous source" part of our program! If you think any of this is by accident, you haven't been paying much attention to how NBA trade drama works. You see, everyone loves to talk tough when they don't have to put their name on record. But these quotes bring up an interesting dynamic from all sides.
It's clear that at this point, some on the team are over the bullshit and just want to move on. Who could that be? Maybe Tyler Herro who has blossomed into an All Star caliber player having the best season of his life? All this talk about "we don't want him back" all while Kevin Love is doing this?
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Is Jimmy trolling with that IG like? The drama!
Could you really blame any of his teammates for feeling that way though? After all that talk about how "we have enough" and all that fugazi bravado, Butler immediately turns around and demands a trade because he thinks the roster is trash and the front office did nothing to bring him help? I imagine that would have you feeling a certain way if you're a player on the Heat showing up and giving your all only to catch strays from a guy that never plays and is burning things down from within.
But more importantly, what is this "Jimmy hasn't even started" nonsense? You can't be talking like that and then do nothing. Empty threats are lame as hell from anonymous sources. Don't talk about it, be about it. If things are clearly fractured, what's stopping Butler from ripping off the bandaid and unleashing hell? What else is there to do outside of demanding a trade, calling the entire roster trash and leaking things left and right to the media from your side?
Does this mean we're going to get another MIN practice situation where it was very obvious Butler planned the whole outburst as a way to get out? Remember when he had Rachel Nichols at the facility 2 seconds after that all happened? That was a masterclass in being a terrible teammate while demanding a trade and burning things down on your way out.
So if everything we've seen from Jimmy is him "not even starting", well then lets see it. Stop making empty threats and walk the walk.
With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, it makes sense that things are starting to heat up and we're getting more "reports" from "sources" as both sides try and push a narrative to the public.
I'm just saying, if you or your camp is making threats like that, then you better follow through and take things up a few levels. Show us where the bodies are buried. I get that this is probably all just a game of chicken between the two sides for Jimmy to try and get what he wants, but that doesn't mean we all can't have fun with it.