Jimmy Butler has been disappointed with the Miami Heat primarily because the team declined to give him a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer, sources tell the Miami Herald. Butler was open to signing a deal early in the negotiating window, but his mindset changed when it wasn’t immediately offered.
ESPN reported on Christmas Day that Butler now prefers to be traded by the Heat with the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks on his list.
The Heat could change their mind and still offer Butler the extension, but there is no indication that the team will do so.
Butler is limited to the maximum of a two-year extension because the over-38 rule does not allow him to sign a new contract that would take him past the next three years.
Butler was also caught off guard by how Pat Riley challenged him during his news conference after the Heat were eliminated in the playoffs.
According to a source, Butler was also disappointed that the Heat did not publicly deny a Dec. 10 ESPN report that Miami was open to trading him.
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