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ATLANTA — Although the national narrative on the Jimmy Butler trade is one of how his acquisition by the Golden State Warriors has rebooted their season, TNT analysts Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy discussed Butler’s exit from the Miami Heat and the fallout on a Friday conference call.
While both stressed that while their work with Turner Sports revolves around what plays out on the court during the postseason, each also answered questions about Butler’s path out of Miami, which included three team suspensions, missing a team flight, walking out of a shootaround when informed he wasn’t starting and questionable performances that led to his Feb. 8 trade.
“Let’s face it, he pulled a grenade and threw it and it blew up in Miami,” said Miller, who noted similar contretemps leading to previous Butler exits from the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. “But there is no denying this: When Jimmy Butler is motivated, when Jimmy Butler is in tune with his team, the organization and his teammates, a top-10, top-15 player, especially this time of the year.
“Come playoff time, it’s hard to question his heart in terms of trying to win ballgames and championships.”
Butler and the Warriors face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with the Heat relegated to a Friday night play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Miller continued: “If I was a player on that Miami Heat team, or Philadelphia, Minnesota, wherever, I would probably feel a little slighted, because you’re taught being a band of brothers, all-in, and we’re going to win this.”
But from a broadcasting perspective, Miller, the Hall of Fame former guard, said the focus is on right player to right team at right time.
“Look, they were dead in the water three months ago,” he said of the Warriors, “and he has given them life. Now how long can they keep that life in him? That will remain to be seen. But in the present moment, this team has a legitimate shot.”
As for Butler’s departure from the Heat, which came after differences with Heat President Pat Riley and the Heat declining an extension that eventually was agreed to with the Warriors, Miller said it all is part of the NBA ecosystem.
“I know it doesn’t look right if I’m a Miami Heat fan and I see what Jimmy Butler is doing and I’m scratching my head saying, ‘Why couldn’t he have been doing this for us?’ I get it,” Miller said. “But Jimmy Butler is not the first to have ever done this, nor will he be the last.”
Similarly, Van Gundy said the deal was a home run for Golden State.
“Jimmy Butler has been great for the Warriors, he’s a great fit, it was an outstanding trade,” he said.
As for the rest, Van Gundy likened Butler’s Heat ride with Riley and Erik Spoelstra almost as a case of caveat emptor.
“If you go through Jimmy’s career, it’s not only really good at the start of all of Jimmy’s career, it’s a love affair everywhere Jimmy goes, right?” the former Heat coach said. “Jimmy goes to Minnesota, and he’s reunited with (coach Tom Thibodeau) and it’s beautiful and they go to the playoffs and the whole thing. He goes to Miami – oh, ‘perfect fit, perfect fit,’ everybody’s saying that: Spo, Pat Riley. Jimmy, perfect fit . . . doesn’t end right.
“But at the beginning, it’s always really good with Jimmy. And the Warriors aren’t looking four years down the road, or even three years down the road. They want a chance to win now. You knew Jimmy was going to go in there and play every night and play extremely well and be happy and the team was going to be happy with him.”
Beyond that, Van Gundy, like Miller, said the focus now turns to Playoff Jimmy.
“As far as me reporting,” Van Gundy said, “I love what Jimmy does as a player when he’s out there. Do I like all the other stuff? No. But that’s not the point now. It doesn’t matter now. I mean, he’s where he is and Golden State is a good basketball team that’s got a chance here in the playoffs.”
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While both stressed that while their work with Turner Sports revolves around what plays out on the court during the postseason, each also answered questions about Butler’s path out of Miami, which included three team suspensions, missing a team flight, walking out of a shootaround when informed he wasn’t starting and questionable performances that led to his Feb. 8 trade.
“Let’s face it, he pulled a grenade and threw it and it blew up in Miami,” said Miller, who noted similar contretemps leading to previous Butler exits from the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. “But there is no denying this: When Jimmy Butler is motivated, when Jimmy Butler is in tune with his team, the organization and his teammates, a top-10, top-15 player, especially this time of the year.
“Come playoff time, it’s hard to question his heart in terms of trying to win ballgames and championships.”
Butler and the Warriors face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with the Heat relegated to a Friday night play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
Miller continued: “If I was a player on that Miami Heat team, or Philadelphia, Minnesota, wherever, I would probably feel a little slighted, because you’re taught being a band of brothers, all-in, and we’re going to win this.”
But from a broadcasting perspective, Miller, the Hall of Fame former guard, said the focus is on right player to right team at right time.
“Look, they were dead in the water three months ago,” he said of the Warriors, “and he has given them life. Now how long can they keep that life in him? That will remain to be seen. But in the present moment, this team has a legitimate shot.”
As for Butler’s departure from the Heat, which came after differences with Heat President Pat Riley and the Heat declining an extension that eventually was agreed to with the Warriors, Miller said it all is part of the NBA ecosystem.
“I know it doesn’t look right if I’m a Miami Heat fan and I see what Jimmy Butler is doing and I’m scratching my head saying, ‘Why couldn’t he have been doing this for us?’ I get it,” Miller said. “But Jimmy Butler is not the first to have ever done this, nor will he be the last.”
Similarly, Van Gundy said the deal was a home run for Golden State.
“Jimmy Butler has been great for the Warriors, he’s a great fit, it was an outstanding trade,” he said.
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As for the rest, Van Gundy likened Butler’s Heat ride with Riley and Erik Spoelstra almost as a case of caveat emptor.
“If you go through Jimmy’s career, it’s not only really good at the start of all of Jimmy’s career, it’s a love affair everywhere Jimmy goes, right?” the former Heat coach said. “Jimmy goes to Minnesota, and he’s reunited with (coach Tom Thibodeau) and it’s beautiful and they go to the playoffs and the whole thing. He goes to Miami – oh, ‘perfect fit, perfect fit,’ everybody’s saying that: Spo, Pat Riley. Jimmy, perfect fit . . . doesn’t end right.
“But at the beginning, it’s always really good with Jimmy. And the Warriors aren’t looking four years down the road, or even three years down the road. They want a chance to win now. You knew Jimmy was going to go in there and play every night and play extremely well and be happy and the team was going to be happy with him.”
Beyond that, Van Gundy, like Miller, said the focus now turns to Playoff Jimmy.
“As far as me reporting,” Van Gundy said, “I love what Jimmy does as a player when he’s out there. Do I like all the other stuff? No. But that’s not the point now. It doesn’t matter now. I mean, he’s where he is and Golden State is a good basketball team that’s got a chance here in the playoffs.”
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