How the Heat’s Jimmy Butler decision has a huge impact on the Thunder

As it is Miami Heat and forward Jimmy ButlerAs his drama unfolds, its outcome could have significant implications for Oklahoma City Thunder. In the midst of a seven-game suspension, Butler reiterated his trade request to the Heat. Team President Pat Riley reportedly turned down a meeting with Butler at the end of last season when their relationship soured. However, if the Heat were to lose Jimmy while still sliding in the Eastern Conference standings, they could lose a first-round pick to the Thunder.

Miami’s 2025 first-round pick, owned by the Thunder, is 1-14 protected but becomes unprotected in 2026, ESPN NBA analysts Tim McMahon and Tim Bontemps discussedaccording to Brian Windhorst and the NBA Collective.

“There’s draft pick drama here, too, by the way,” McMahon said. “He’s lottery protected this year thanks to who else, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and if he’s not transferred this year, he’s unprotected next year.”

If the Heat aren’t competitive in 2025-26, it could turn into a high first-round pick for Oklahoma City.

“By the way, that makes their pick for Charlotte in 2028 automatically unprotected if that happens,” Bontemps said. “So, from not having an unprotected pick, they have two unprotected picks if they don’t make the playoffs this year.”

It will be intriguing to see how things play out between now and the NBA trade deadline on February 6th.

Pat Riley dropped Jimmy Butler before the Heat questioned the effort

NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that Heat president Pat Riley stiffed Jimmy Butler months before the team questioned Butler’s effort on the floor. Haines discovered how things played out between Riley and Butler after the disgruntled forward made comments about a potential contract extension, according to The Dan LeBatard Show.

“I think that’s what Pat Riley meant when he said something like, ‘If you’re not playing, you should probably shut up.'” “Obviously, it got Jimmy (Butler) out of whack,” Haynes said. “He felt like those comments took things too far.” Both sides recognized the need for a face-to-face meeting to clear the air after all that had happened.

“Jimmy was under the assumption that Pat would visit him during the offseason at his place in San Diego,” Haynes continued. “Jimmy even told him about it, but that meeting never happened.” Pat never went out there. There was no communication — no texts, no phone calls, no face-to-face meetings — until January 1st, when the heat brought Jimmy to the office. At that meeting they questioned his effort, suggesting they didn’t think he was doing his best.”

Since that meeting, there has been no further communication between the two.