NBA Trade Rumors: LeBron James' ugly Miami exit could be influencing Pat Riley's 'petty' Jimmy Butler treatment, per insider 

Dan Le Batard believed Pat Riley's way of handling the Jimmy Butler trade saga was influenced by the murky LeBron James exit in 2014. It was well documented that the Heat head honcho had taken the then 2x NBA champion's move from the franchise personally. By his own admission, Riley revealed that he was angry with James' decision.

With the Butler scenario getting complicated ahead of the deadline, Le Batard thought that the forward's second suspension amid the ongoing trade dilemma could have been due to how the James storyline panned out a decade ago.

Speaking on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, the insider weighed in on the headline-garnering drama in Miami:

"Something happened to Pat Riley in how it is that hurt, (the way LeBron left)...I will say that having seen him go through that and having him seen him really legitimately hurt by that – I wouldn't be surprised in this circumstance if he finds the urge to be petty and says 'I'll send you to Utah.

"You're not going to be the one who publicly embarrasses me. Here's ANOTHER suspension.' I don't think that's a wise game to play with Jimmy Butler."

Riley, in a 2015 interview with Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick shared his thoughts on how James playing long term for the Heat and the chemistry that was established alongside US Olympics teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could have made the franchise extend their dominance. He added that the Heat "could have been historic."

LeBron James spent four seasons with the Heat from 2010-14 and led the side to two championships while also getting the team to make four appearances in the NBA Finals.

Forward to the present, the Jimmy Butler trade fiasco gets uglier by the day with the All-Star powerhouse suspended for the second time in three weeks. The team's official statement cited a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team" as the key reason.

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ESPN insider says the Jimmy Butler situation was viewed as a distraction by the Heat players and franchise

In his latest appearance on SportsCenter, ESPN insider Shams Charania shed light on the drama-riddled state of affairs within the Heat organization.

Charania said the mood in the Miami camp has become "untenable," with players and staff members labeling the scenario a "distraction." Butler had returned to the side after he was suspended for seven games due to "conduct detrimental to the team."

On the trade front, Jimmy Butler's preferred destination, the Phoenix Suns are stocking up to make a compelling pitch to the Heat. They loaded up on their draft capital by acquiring three first-round draft picks from the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

While Le Batard's take on the situation in Miami opens the floor up for debate, it's interesting to see how it all pans out in the end for Jimmy Butler, who when traded to the Heat was looked at as the man delivering them the next trophy.