"You cannot intimidate Pat Riley" - Prominent NBA agent makes blunt statement about Jimmy Butler's moves in trade saga

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat - Source: Imagn
Prominent NBA agent makes blunt statement about Jimmy Butler's moves in trade saga - Source: Imagn

Jimmy Butler's trade saga has reached its boiling point with his official trade request to the Miami Heat. ESPN insider Brian Windhorst claimed that an anonymous prominent NBA agent offered a stern warning to the six-time All-Star concerning the Heat's long-serving President Pat Riley.

According to Windhorst, this prominent agent told him that despite his recent official formal request, he couldn't intimidate the Heat President. Pat Riley has been known to operate in an unorthodox style that always chooses the affairs of the organization before the needs of any star player.

"You cannot intimidate Pat Riley," the agent said.

Furthermore, Tim Bontemps of ESPN also claimed that a rival NBA executive asserted that it is futile to get into a fight with Pat Riley, claiming that it's a lost effort because Riley himself has nothing to lose in situations like that.

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"You never want to get in a fight with someone who has nothing to lose. And Pat has nothing to lose."

Pat Riley took a stance when the trade rumor was nothing but rumors. He released a statement last week shutting down rumors that Butler is leaving the franchise, as he called it an unnecessary distraction to the players and coaches.

After Thursday's 128-115 home loss to the Indiana Pacers, Butler in his presser suggested that he wanted a fresh start somewhere else. When asked if he could still find his happiness in the sport as a Heat player he responded negatively.

This report was first broken by ESPN's Shams Charania. The report was initially refuted by Butler's agent who had a back-and-forth with Charania.


Jimmy Butler and Pat Riley's relationship according to NBA insider

Jimmy Butler and Pat Riley's relationship was discussed by NBA insider Shams Charania during Friday's episode of "First Take." According to Charania, Butler had a good relationship with the longtime Heat president when he joined the organization in 2019.

Furthermore, the relationship took a bad turn when Butler requested the Heat make roster changes to make them better championship contenders.

"For the last three summers, Jimmy Butler has urged the Heat ...to elevate the roster, improve the roster, bring in another star around him. And the Heat have not done so."

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Shams added that the breaking point may have been after the 2022-23 season. That season, "Playoff Jimmy" led the seventh-seed Miami to the NBA Finals and the team they beat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics, went on to improve their roster and win the NBA Championship the following season.

The Heat failed to improve on their dominant 2022-23 postseason the following season. Jimmy Butler this season has dropped in his performance as he is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

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Edited by Steven Kubitza
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