Jimmy Butler forced an exit from the Miami Heat, who have been told they should have no regrets.
On the same day Jimmy Butler was preparing for his Western Conference semifinals Game 2 with the Golden State Warriors, Pat Riley was holding his postseason debrief with the Miami Heat.
Miami’s season came to an abrupt end after the team was wiped out in a 4-0 series defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have since proven to be beatable.
Heat fans have vented at president Pat Riley over his running of the team, with his biggest decision this season to trade away Jimmy Butler after a situation that became untenable.
The Heat suspended Butler three times in January before trading him away, with his on-court performances lacking a usual spark. After joining the Warriors, he immediately revved up their season, and has left the Golden State ownership glad to have traded for him.
Mychal Thompson on Pat Riley vs Jimmy Butler
Former NBA star Mychal Thompson played under coach Pat Riley for the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 1980s.
Speaking to CLNS Media, Thompson is wholeheartedly convinced the Miami Heat made the right decision to part ways with Jimmy Butler, no matter the cost.
Thompson points out that Butler was always fighting a losing battle by deciding to publicly take on Pat Riley.
He explained: “He’s a very moody type guy. I think he’s gonna blow up wherever he is unless he gets his way. But that doesn’t work with Pat Riley.
“He don’t care who you are, you don’t go along with the program, he’s gonna get rid of you.
“And when it comes to their resumes, there’s no argument there. You’re gonna argue with Pat Riley, he’s got like nine championship rings, so you’re always gonna lose that battle if you’re gonna go head to head against Pat Riley.”
With the situation in Miami clearly unresolvable, Thompson feels Riley made the only decision they could.
“They did the right thing by, if you’re not going to go along with the Miami culture and program or Pat Riley’s rules, you gotta go. He just doesn’t care who you are.”
Riley’s old school approach has been criticized by others, and it is fair to argue that the situation should never have been allowed to deteriorate to a point where president and star player were at odds, and not on the same page.
Mychal Thompson makes Jerry West point
Mychal Thompson made a callback to his time on the Lakers when it was Jerry West calling the shots behind the scenes.
He explained that West made clear he would never try to keep a player against his will.
“I mean, Jerry West told me that when I first joined you guys in Showtime, he told me, Mychal, you’re not happy you just let me know and I’ll get rid of you.
“And I like that if you don’t want to be in a certain place which Jimmy Butler showed Miami, ‘I’m ready, I’m out of here ready to go’, then see you later.
“It’s like, it’s like in any relationship, you know, whether it’s personal or business if someone doesn’t want to be with you, it’s time to say goodbye.”
The Heat fought to try and keep Butler before conceding defeat ahead of the trade deadline, however, it did become clear this was impossible.
The challenge then became whether they could find a suitable trade partner, and the package the Heat received headlined with Andrew Wiggins still feels underwhelming.
