Latest On Heat’s Jimmy Butler, As Shams Charania Stands ‘By My Reporting’

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania found himself in the crosshairs this week, courtesy of Bernie Lee, Jimmy Butler’s agent, who called Shams’ reporting “made-up bulls–t.”

That’s not pulling punches, folks. But Shams? Oh, he didn’t just take it on the chin. Nope, he went on ESPN’s First Take and doubled down, saying, “I one thousand percent stand by my reporting.”

That’s right, he didn’t just stand by it — he practically built a house on it.

Here’s the scoop that started all this drama: Charania reported that Butler’s camp has its eyes on teams like the Rockets, Mavericks, Warriors, and later added the Suns to the mix if Miami decides to ship out their 35-year-old star.

A bold claim? Sure. But Shams made it clear Butler hasn’t requested a trade — this is more of a “keep your options open” kind of thing. The Heat are listening, but that’s different from dealing.

Now, let’s get into the weeds. Other reports have thrown cold water on some of those landing spots. Dallas and Phoenix? Highly unlikely, thanks to salary cap gymnastics and personnel headaches.

The Rockets? They’ve said they’re not keen on blowing up their core midseason. And yet, Charania isn’t backing down. He’s sticking to his guns, saying Butler’s camp likes these teams. Maybe they’re wish-listing. Maybe they’re manifesting. Who knows?

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst chimed in during the same segment, painting a different picture. He believes Butler’s preference is to stay in Miami and sign an extension — something he apparently wanted this past NBA offseason.

But Pat Riley’s Heat have been slow-playing it. Classic Riley, always one step ahead — or at least he thinks so. Still, as trade season approaches, Windhorst pointed out Butler could be the biggest name floated around. Execs love to speculate, and where there’s smoke, there’s usually … a Heat trade rumor.

Anyway, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo and Keith Smith of Spotrac have both dived into the logistics. O’Connor thinks Golden State makes the most sense out of Shams’ list but also suggests Denver (yes, the Nuggets) as a dark horse.

Smith, meanwhile, outlines how tricky this would be under the cap — and by tricky, we mean nearly impossible unless Miami gets creative. And don’t sleep on Brooklyn, but they’re more of a free-agency play next summer, not an in-season move.

So, what’s the takeaway here? It’s Jimmy Butler. There’s always something resembling drama. Whether it’s real, imagined, or somewhere in between, the Heat’s star always keeps us entertained. The next few weeks? Buckle up. This NBA story is just heating up.