The Jimmy Butler Pat Riley war continues with subtle attacks. The Miami Heat forward is determined to leave the team, and with each passing day, he finds new ways to express his feelings. This time, Jimmy found a way to attack Pat Riley while getting his daily dose of caffeine.
Jimmy Butler Throws Shade at Pat Riley – “Bosses Build You Up”
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In a video showing on Instagram, Jimmy goes to a barista in a coffee shop and gives him a huge compliment. He said,
“This is our best guy right here. See that? See that? I gave you the compliment. That’s what bosses do. We build you up. We don’t break you down.”
As he was delivering the last line, Butler looked directly at the camera and smiled as he was looking at Pat Riley’s face. Jimmy didn’t forget to give his thumbs up as the video finished. One might say that Butler is discussing good management style, but there is no escaping this is another subtle jaw at Pat Riley.
How Will the Jimmy Butler Pat Riley War End?
Previously, Pat Riley appeared on a podcast and threw a shade at Jimmy. He said,
“I understand this generation of players and how they want to go about living their lives. While you’re under contract with us, you do owe us something. Your collective bargaining agreement contract says that. So don’t ever take that lightly, and we have a very cooperative group of people.”
Things between Riley and Jimmy began escalating in the summer. The Miami Heat president said the team has no intention of giving Jimmy an extension in the summer. He also emphasized they want to see more of Jimmy, playing hard throughout the season and not just the playoffs. Butler then hinted he has no intention of exercising his player option. He wants to explore free agency in the summer.
A month ago, rumors began about Jimmy wanting out of Miami and having preferences about several teams. Now, it seems like the war has moved to social media, and throwing verbal shades at each other.
Butler’s History Says He Will Play Elsewhere
The Jimmy Butler Pat Riley war seems like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Jimmy has a history of finding a way out of teams for which he has no joy playing. On the other hand, Pat Riley is an experienced executive who always gets his way.
We have to remember, this is the guy who let Dwyane Wade, a Miami Heat legend, walk away in free agency. At the time, Pat thought that Wade was past his prime, and the team could benefit from going in a different direction. Looking at it from today, he was right. He was also right when he traded Shaquille O’Neal. Butler, for his part, has managed to find his way out of Minnesota.
Is It a Money Thing or Something Else?
Charles Barkley weighed on the drama between Jimmy and Riley a few days ago, claiming it is all about the money. Jimmy wants an extension, and the team (Pat) is not willing to give him one. The Heat would not be the first team to refuse to pay a 35-year-old $100+ million. The only team willing to do that in the league right now is the Phoenix Suns. They are aggressive in trying to get Jimmy, but it all hinges on Bradley Beal and his decision to waive his no-trade clause.
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