The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler have had a falling out, and all indications are that the relationship could be beyond repair. A new piece by ESPN's Ramona Shelburne explains how things got to this uncomfortable place. At one point she cites Pat Riley and the team's brain trust's attempt to find a new leader after Udonis Haslem departed before the 2023-24 season and their decision to land on Bam Adebayo.
It's perfectly understandable why this situation would not sit well with Butler, who for a few years made quite a habit of putting the Heat on his back and elevating them deeper into the postseason than they had any business playing.
And eventually it led to what sounds like a realization that if he's going to serve in such a role, it might be better if he's third wheel to a more formidable scoring duo out West.
The Suns being an attractive landing spot for Butler is not necessarily a revelatory thought. To see someone in Butler's camp get the idea into print, though, could reflect a change in the belief about how realistic a reconciliation could be in the future.
The thing is, Phoenix is not exactly dominating the league. They sit at 20-20, good for 10th in the Western Conference. The Heat, meanwhile, are 20-19 and would be the No. 8 seed in the East if the season ended today. Considering the advancing age of both Butler and Durant, the Suns making this happen would represent an all-in immediacy. And it sounds like it might be what Butler wants after all the smoke settles.