"They were playing with fire" - NBA insider points out Heat's $112.6 million blunder that sparked Jimmy Butler drama

All eyes are on the Miami Heat as they navigate the Jimmy Butler situation ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. One topic of conversation that has unfolded in this narrative is: Who's to blame for the debacle in South Beach?

NBA insider Brian Windhorst chimed in on this topic when he joined the SiriusXM NBA Radio show this past weekend. Speaking to Vince Goodwill and former NBA coach Sam Mitchell, Windy gave his take on the Miami situation:

"I do think you have to know your player," Windhorst said of the Heat organization. "When the Heat elected to not offer him an extension, and also elected not to trade him, and they chose this third path, I thought they were playing with fire."

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Heat could have offered Butler a maximum two-year extension worth $112.6 million. But the organization decided not to pursue this option.

The 35-year-old Butler has spent six seasons with the Heat, playing a total of 377 games across the regular season and playoffs. Though Butler did occasionally butt heads with teammates and head coach Erik Spoelstra, his presence on the Heat roster has led to two NBA Finals trips over the past five years.

Windhorst, however, pointed out that Jimmy Buckets isn't entirely blameless in this situation, either:

"I'm not saying that that's the way you should conduct yourself as a player."

Indeed, Butler raised eyebrows when he said after the Jan. 2 Heat-Pacers game that he'd lost his "joy" playing basketball. When asked whether it was possible for him to reclaim that joy while competing for the Heat, he gave a curt response: "Probably not."

Analysts disagree on where the Miami Heat will send Jimmy Butler

Windhorst also appeared on a weekend edition of SportsCenter to discuss speculations on the eventual landing spot of Jimmy Butler, who is serving a seven-game suspension for his incendiary remarks.

"Right now, I think you're seeing a lot of teams testing just how low they might be able to buy Jimmy Butler for," Windhorst said. "The one exception to that would be the Phoenix Suns."

On the same show, analyst Quentin Richardson gave a different take. Richardson, whose 13-year playing career included one season in Miami, offered an opinion based on personal experience:

"I don’t know where he will end up," Richardson commented. "I know it will be in the best interests of the Heat, knowing the way Pat Riley moves, but I really doubt that he’ll go to one of those great destinations like Phoenix or Golden State where he’ll have a chance to win in that way, right away."

At this point, there's no telling whether even the Heat organization knows what they're going to do with their disgruntled star. As the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches, NBA fans will stay tuned for any and all developments surrounding the Jimmy Butler saga.