"Jimmy Butler is trying to sink that ship": $10,000,000 Ex-NBA star makes his stance clear on Pat Riley-Heat's star feud with no-holds barred take

The situation between Jimmy Butler and Pat Riley continues to be the biggest story in the NBA. While the media has largely remained neutral, some former NBA players have predicted the outcome in favor of the Miami Heat president.

The latest input came from the Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway. In a conversation with Eddie A. Johnson and Justin Termine on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Saturday, Hardaway alleged that Butler has been trying to mess up the Heat organization.

Siding with Riley, the $10,000,000 worth Heat legend (per Celebrity Net Worth) also revealed that Riley sent a long letter to the NBPA highlighting the reasons why Miami suspended him.

"You don't disrespect authority and that's what Jimmy Butler has been doing," Hardaway said. "Jimmy Butler is trying to sink that ship. That ship is not going to sink. I'm all with Pat Riley. You're under contract, you play under this contract and see where all the chips may fall. You can opt into $52 million next year that you say you're not going to opt in.

"It's mind-boggling to me. How you gonna opt out of $52 million? These guys can't take rejection. I know (the Heat) gave them (the NBPA) a 10-page letter and I know he gave them some film to show them why he suspended him."

Butler has been suspended without pay by the Heat for seven games which will cost him $2.4 million. The NBPA said that the actions by the Heat organization were "excessive and inappropriate."

Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin weigh in on Jimmy Butler's suspension

Former NBA players Carmelo Anthony and Blake Griffin also weighed in on the Miami Heat suspending Jimmy Butler. While they stayed clear on taking sides, they believed that going against Pat Riley was a bad idea.

In Friday's episode of the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast, Anthony said that Riley might trade Butler to a struggling team.

"This is serious business now," Anthony said. "This could really f**k you up going into your next situation. Pat gonna send him to somewhere — yeah okay you wanna f**k with me? Imma send you to the Wizards', and that's gonna be a f**k you to Jimmy."

Griffin added that if Riley sent Butler to a bad team, he would lose another year.

"Also like, Jimmy's 35," Griffin said. "He trades him to Washington, a year is gone. At 35, a year is gone."

However, Anthony alluded to a change in Butler's approach towards the game. He said that he has been around him and knows that the Heat star is a workaholic. He found it strange that Butler has lost his love for the game.

Butler is expected to return against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. However, if he would see action remains unclear.