Stephen A's Take: Jimmy Butler, Miami’s best player for five years, being suspended.

Summary

Summary of "Stephen A's Take: Jimmy Butler, Miami’s Best Player for Five Years, Being Suspended"

Podcast Information

• Title: The Stephen A. Smith Show
• Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
• Episode Title: Stephen A's Take: Jimmy Butler, Miami’s Best Player for Five Years, being suspended
• Release Date: January 4, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the recent controversies surrounding Jimmy Butler, the star player of the Miami Heat. The discussion centers on Butler's rumored desire to leave the team, his public statements, and the potential implications for both Butler and the Miami Heat organization.

Background on Jimmy Butler's Situation

Stephen A. Smith begins by addressing the rumors that have been circulating about Jimmy Butler wanting to exit the Miami Heat. Despite Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, previously denying these rumors, recent developments have confirmed Butler's intent to seek a change.

Stephen A. Smith [01:06]: "Jimmy Butler, star of the Miami Heat, is making some noise. There have been rumors over the last several weeks that indeed he wanted out, even though his agent, Bernie Lee, had denied it at that time."

Jimmy Butler's Public Statements

Butler has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the team's current performance and his desire to regain his competitive edge.

Nate Thompson [01:48]: "I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. And wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon."

Butler emphasizes his need to return to a dominant form to help his team win, indicating that he feels he is not currently achieving that with the Miami Heat.

Nate Thompson [02:08]: "I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here, you know, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win."

Stephen A. Smith's Analysis

Stephen A. Smith provides a comprehensive analysis of Butler's situation, expressing both understanding and frustration with Butler's stance.

Stephen A. Smith [02:16]: "If you are Pat Riley and the Miami Heat, this does not seem to be a star that wants to stay near South Beach. Nevertheless, you don't usually hear such things from a player playing for Pat Riley."

Smith reflects on his extensive experience covering the NBA, noting that it is unprecedented for a player under Pat Riley’s leadership to publicly express a desire to leave.

Performance Metrics and Team Dynamics

Smith examines Butler's current performance metrics, highlighting a decline in his minutes and scoring averages:

Stephen A. Smith [04:10]: "Minutes per game, 30.8, fewest since 2012, 2013. Scoring average, 17.6, lowest since 2013, 2014."

Despite these numbers, Butler maintains high shooting percentages, raising questions about his reduced usage rate within the team.

Stephen A. Smith [05:20]: "Shooting 55% from the field, 58% on two pointers... why isn't he getting it more? Why am I looking at a usage rate of 20.3% for the Miami Heat, which is the lowest on a team?"

Leadership and Team Support

Smith critiques the support Butler has received from the organization, noting missed opportunities to acquire star players that could have bolstered the team's competitiveness.

Stephen A. Smith [07:45]: "He got you to two NBA finals in a four to five year period. And what has he been clamoring for over the last three summers?... Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard... it didn't work out."

Potential Destinations for Jimmy Butler

Stephen A. Smith speculates on possible teams that Butler might consider if he opts to leave the Miami Heat, evaluating the prospects of each:

1. Phoenix Suns

   Stephen A. Smith [09:10]: "The ideal landing spot for Jimmy Butler is the Phoenix Suns... With Luka and Kyrie, it's not a losing proposition."

2. Golden State Warriors

   Stephen A. Smith [09:45]: "Steph Curry, you need another Klay Thompson, you don't need a Jimmy Butler in my estimation... but it could go either way."

3. Dallas Mavericks

   Stephen A. Smith [09:55]: Brief mention without detailed analysis.

4. Houston Rockets

   Stephen A. Smith [10:00]: "Jimmy Butler with the Houston Rockets, a young team... but Jimmy Butler doesn't hurt."

Smith emphasizes that Butler's addition could provide veteran leadership and enhance team dynamics, particularly highlighting the Phoenix Suns as the most suitable match.

Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith concludes by underscoring the complexity of Butler's situation. While Butler's desire to leave is understandable given his current frustrations, Smith questions whether such a move is in the best interest of both Butler and the Miami Heat.

Stephen A. Smith [10:30]: "If you are the Phoenix Suns, you should get on your knees if you have to and beg Bradley Beal to wave that no trade clause and take his ass to Miami."

Smith remains critical of Butler's handling of the situation but acknowledges his talent and the potential positive impact on a new team.

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Notable Quotes

• Stephen A. Smith [02:16]: "Pat Riley, the great Pat Riley, the Winner within... he knows how to win and he knows how to build a culture."
• Stephen A. Smith [04:10]: "Minutes per game, 30.8, fewest since 2012, 2013. Scoring average, 17.6, lowest since 2013, 2014."
• Stephen A. Smith [09:10]: "Jimmy Butler should be a Phoenix, son."

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Key Takeaways

• Jimmy Butler's Frustration: Butler is publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the Miami Heat's current trajectory and his role within the team.
• Performance Concerns: Despite high shooting efficiency, Butler's reduced minutes and scoring averages indicate underlying issues.
• Organizational Support: The Miami Heat have not adequately supported Butler's quest for additional star power to enhance team competitiveness.
• Potential Trades: Smith identifies the Phoenix Suns as Butler's most favorable destination, with the Golden State Warriors as another possible option.
• Impact on Miami Heat: Butler's potential departure could significantly affect the team's performance and future prospects.

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This episode provides a deep dive into the current dynamics between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, offering listeners Stephen A. Smith's seasoned perspective on the implications of Butler's potential departure and the broader impact on the NBA landscape.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and JSP on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Jimmy Butler, star of the Miami Heat, is making some noise. There have been rumors over the last several weeks that indeed he wanted out, even though his agent, Bernie Lee, had denied it at the at that time. Nevertheless, it's been made official because we heard from Jimmy Butler himself, and boy, did we all hear from him. When he spoke up. It was not that pleasant. If you are Pat Riley and the Miami Heat, this does not seem to be a star that wants to stay near South Beach. Nevertheless, you don't usually hear such things from a player playing for Pat Riley. But you heard it last night. Listen for yourself.

[Nate Thompson]

I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. And wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon. But I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here, you know, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right now.

[Nate Thompson]

I'm not doing that. Can you get your joy back here on the court? Probably not.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Damn. Ladies and gentlemen, I've been covering the NBA for close to 30 years. In that time, I don't recall hearing anybody that has played for Pat Riley when Pat Riley was a coach. Since Pat Riley has been president of basketball operations that have spoken that defiantly against an organization run by Pat Riley. It has never happened. Well, it's happened now. Jimmy Butler wants out and I'm here to tell you I can't blame him. When you look at the Miami Heat, presently a top six seed in the Eastern Conference, 1715, two games over 500 at the time that we are recording this show, nevertheless, nobody has them in the championship equation. And when you listen to Jimmy Butler, what essentially is it that he is saying? I'll tell you what he's saying. He's saying we're not very good and we're not going to compete for a championship. We're likely not better than the Milwaukee Bucks. We're probably not better than the New York Knicks. We definitely ain't better than the Cleveland Cavaliers, and we damn sure ain't better than a reigning defending NBA champion Boston Celtics. In other words, we have no chance at this particular juncture with the team that we presently have assembled. If you are the Miami Heat, you can be a bit salty for how Jimmy Butler has chosen to handle this, and we would all understand that. But respectfully, how wrong is he? We hadn't heard anything from Jimmy Butler up to this point. And when we look at Pat Riley, a person that I've known for years, that I revere and I have a lot of love and respect for, I even have him in my book, Straight Shooter, in terms of the contribution he's made to my life and my career, there is no getting around the fact that Pat Riley, the great Pat Riley, the Winner within, that was the name of the book that he authored. The Winner within, who's been a champion on every level as a player, as a coach, as a president of basketball operations. This man knows, knows how to win and he knows how to build a culture, and he knows how to have structure and order to an organization. He is a leader, and there's no question about that. But when it comes to Jimmy Butler or the Jimmy Butler era in Miami, one could easily ask, what have you done for him lately? Bam. Adebayer can play. But this is not Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokic or somebody of that caliber that we're talking about. Okay, let's just get that out the way right now. That's not what's going on here. And when you look at Jimmy Butler, a player option for next season of 52.4 million, who's being paid over 49 million. Now, just look at some of the stats. Look at this here. Think about it. Minutes per game, 30.8, fewest since 2012, 2013. Scoring average, 17.6, lowest since 2013, 2014. Now, you will look at those numbers and say well, Jimmy Butler, that's on you, right? Uh, hold on, brother. Shooting 55% from the field, 58% on two pointers, which means that when you give him the ball for him to shoot the basketball, it goes in more times than it doesn't. Why isn't he getting it more? Why am I looking at a usage rate of 20.3% for the Miami Heat, which is the lowest on a team? Some dude named Haywood Highsmith has a higher usage rate than Jimmy Butler. How? How? It makes no sense. Tyler Herro can ball, but he shoots difficult shots at times or shots elections, leaves a lot to be desired. Bam. Adebayer can ball, but he's not that kind of a stud offensively. Jimmy Butler's the one that got you to two NBA finals in a four to five year period. And what has he been clamoring for over the last three summers? Or so help now you're the Miami Heat. You had an opportunity to get Kevin Durant. Didn't work out. You had an opportunity to get Damian Lillet. Didn't work out. Not only did you not get Damian Lillard, not only did you not get Kevin Durant, but it's in the aftermath of losing LeBron James because LeBron James felt that it was too tight of a ship that Pat Riley was running. I don't know how true that is, because we all know that LeBron James had aspirations to go back to Cleveland and make amends for departing from them before delivering a championship to the city who was enduring a 52 year curse before he ended it in 2016. But still, in all, it leaves the question, what help has Jimmy Butler gotten? The answer is minimal. And because of that is why he's probably said enough. And why he spoke out is because after acknowledging that he wanted out, Pat Riley came out last week and said, we ain't trading them. So he's making it clear I don't want to be here. And if he doesn't want to be there, why keep him there? To me, it's very, very simple, ladies and gentlemen. I don't think there's anything to think about here. When I think about Jimmy Butler, his four options that he would prefer. Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, number one. Number two. He's probably worried that Pat Riley gonna send him someplace that he don't want to go to, to a morribund franchise mired in basketball purgatory that has a shot in hell of winning anything. Because when you speak out, Pat Riley's not gonna do you any favors now, but if I'm Jimmy Butler, or shall I say if I'm one of those teams interested in Jimmy Butler. Listen, there's a case that could be made. Jimmy Butler with Luka and Kyrie. Yeah, I don't know if you need that, but it's not a losing proposition. Jimmy Butler with the Houston Rockets, a young team. Yeah, he could help their veteran leadership, but they already got Dillon Brooks and Fred Van Vliet. But Jimmy Butler doesn't hurt. Let's call it what it is. The Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry, you need another Klay Thompson, you don't need a Jimmy Butler in my estimation, Even though Jimmy Butler with Traymond Green in the same locker room, that's some fire for you, bro. That could go either way. But I think it would be a positive more so than a negative, personally, because I think they're both winners. The ideal landing spot for Jimmy Butler is the Phoenix Suns. I don't mean to be disrespectful. I'm just telling you what I know based on reporting on the league for all of these years. The Phoenix Suns are an ultra talented team with a lot of offensive firepower. Nevertheless, they are considered a team as soft as cottonelle tissue. Nobody is concerned about their toughness. And toughness is what gets it done for you in the playoffs. If you are the Phoenix Suns, you should get on your knees if you have to and beg Bradley Beal to wave that no trade clause and take his ass to Miami. There's no state income taxes there, the weather is beautiful, along with various other things that we won't mention here. And you should look forward to going to South Beach. No state income taxes, warm weather, got hurricanes in the summertime and stuff like that. But damn it, you ain't gonna be there. You're gonna be in one island. One island or another. You know what I'm saying? Wonderful wife, wonderful family. Bradley Beals, good people. Go to Miami, dawg. Go to Miami. Let Jimmy Butler go out to Phoenix, Arizona. Cause Jimmy Butler in that locker room with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker as his teammate, with Mike Budenhoser as a coach, with skilled but soft ass Nurkic as your big man. Let me tell you something. That culture would change quick. Faster than Ahri. That's where I'm at with Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler should be a Phoenix, son. Ishbar and the rest of Phoenix's hierarchy, do what you can to get your hands on Jimmy Butler and then you won't be in the middle of things in the Western Conference. You'll be at the top of the heap. You feel what I'm saying?

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.