Jimmy Butler, would you prefer to be traded? ‘Does it matter? I honestly do not care about getting traded.’

[ad_1]

After being away from the team and missing the last five games, Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat on Tuesday for the first time since ESPN reported on Christmas Day that he would prefer to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline. Here was his chance to echo Pat Riley and tamp down the trade speculation.

Instead, Butler pulled out the gas can and threw that on the fire.

Here are his responses to media questions, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Asked if he would indeed prefer to be traded, Butler said: “Does it matter? Does it matter?.. I honestly do not care about getting traded, where I’m supposed to go, who’s saying what…. All of that is out of my control anyway.”

Would he be happy and content if he’s not traded this season, in the wake of team president Pat Riley saying he won’t be traded? “I don’t know,” he said. “We will see. Only time will tell. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen come tomorrow. I appreciate the statement. But this is a business after all. I won’t have any hard feelings either way.”

Butler then was asked if it’s the best interests of both parties to stay together this season or have an amicable divorce before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know. That’s up to Pat. He will do what’s best for the organization as they should. And as long as I’m happy. And right now, I’m happy. I’m in a good space. I’ve got my kids here. I’m healthy. I’m smiling. I promise you I’m happy.”

Go ahead and fire up the trade machine and try to create fake trades for Butler. However, remember what Pat Riley said just after Christmas.

Statement from Pat Riley

“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 26, 2024

Butler’s comments, nor Riley’s statement, don’t change the basic facts of the situation:

Butler is 35 years old, has a lengthy medical history, and has a player option for next season at $52.4 million, which his camp has let it be known he intends to opt out of because he…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jimmy-butler-prefer-traded-does-193000300.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-31 19:30:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.