NBA insider gets brutally honest about Pat Riley's blunt statement on Jimmy Butler trade

Miami Heat president Pat Riley unexpectedly quieted the Jimmy Butler trade rumors with a Thursday statement outlining his plan to keep the star wing. While many were surprised, according to The Ringer's Bill Simmons, the news is a testament to the modern-day NBA's heightened trade restrictions.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Butler "prefers a trade out of Miami ahead of the Feb. 6 (NBA trade) deadline." The news came a couple of weeks after Charania's report that the organization was "open to listening to offers" for the six-time All-Star.

However, on Thursday, in an uncommon move, Riley dispelled the notion that he is looking to move Butler, via a statement relayed by the Heat.

"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," Riley said. "Therefore, we will make it clear: We are not trading Jimmy Butler."

On Thursday's episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Simmons reacted to the latest development in the Butler trade saga. The league insider attributed it to the NBA's tax aprons making it more difficult for teams to complete blockbuster midseason deals.

"We don't see NBA teams do this that often, but I think it speaks to a bigger picture thing ... with this new first apron, second apron, how much harder it is to do trades," Simmons said.

"The NBA is starting to look a lot more like the NFL. It is so much harder to deal somebody during the season than it used to be, which is what Riley said, 'We're not dealing him during the season, we'll figure it out during the offseason.'"

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Bill Simmons says Pat Riley saw "bigger picture" during Jimmy Butler trade negotiations

During his podcast, Bill Simmons added that Miami may have called Jimmy Butler's bluff regarding his $52.4 million player option for next season. According to Simmons, Butler is unlikely to opt out and jump ship to the lone team with sizeable offseason cap space, the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets.

"Butler is (making) $48 million and then (has a) $52 million player option next year, which, odds are, he's gonna exercise because nobody has cap space this summer," Simmons said. "The only team is Brooklyn. Is he gonna go to Brooklyn? They're gonna be rebuilding."

Given Butler's seemingly limited trade market and his contract situation, Simmons noted that Riley likely made a calculated decision to hold on to his top player.

"Pat Riley is looking big picture and looking at an NBA that now operates way more like the NFL, where it's way harder just to do big complicated deals, and he didn't like the deals that were out there," Simmons said.

After a third of the season, the Heat (15-13) sit sixth in the Eastern Conference. Thus, they still have plenty of time to pivot and bolster their roster around the five-time All-NBA selectee for another playoff run.

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