The Heat themselves may also be responsible for this. Recently, the media also revealed that in order to allow Butler to succeed in Miami, the team gave him a lot of privileges. He was treated like James earlier. He was favored and had “favors” in the previous two times. The success of “Zai” gave him the confidence to challenge the team again, but this time, Leary couldn’t bear it anymore. He felt that Butler had touched his bottom line.
This confrontation with the team is really different from the previous two. In addition to the target being Leary, the most important thing is to discuss the contract of 36-year-old Butler. There is also the “Master Chief” who has a contract of up to two years and really has no initiative. In addition, in the external environment, all the teams are tied up by the new version of CBA, which has further damaged the buying momentum. Although he clamored to leave the team as soon as possible before February 6, the reality is that it is based on salary structure considerations.
The Heat don’t want to give Butler a maximum salary, but they don’t want a bad contract with a similar salary or even longer years. There are very few partners with whom they can negotiate. However, Master Chief, who originally said that he could go to any team, later added, “No intention.” “Go to the Grizzlies and talk to certain teams”, which shows that he originally planned to use methods such as threatening not to renew the contract or even giving up the player option to deter the unfavorable teams from trading.
A player target who actively wants to leave because everyone wants to break up with the team and doesn’t want to throw away the package and intend to rob him, actually wants to decide which team to go to (at this stage, the only choice seems to be the Suns, because Phoenix intends to provide a maximum salary extension) (but it is really difficult for Miami to absorb Bill), and the team is bound to suffer losses, and the target is still Leary. This is too wishful thinking.
What’s more reasonable is that if the Heat don’t have a good package, they can wait until each team has more space and bargaining chips in the summer before negotiating. However, the initiative is still in Miami. Except for the very small chance that the Nets can directly use the space to negotiate a maximum salary extension, Other teams still have to rely on the Heat for signings and trades – and this is Butler’s difficulty, he has to go through the team’s hurdles if he wants to leave.
The worst-case scenario is that he can’t be traded. Butler is also very realistic and wants to leave as soon as possible. If he can’t leave, he will still exercise the player option of the maximum salary and get more than 50 million US dollars first.
Contrary to what many fans think, even if we put aside the internal atmosphere of the team that can actually be forced to deal with, as well as the illusory issue of damage to the team’s attractiveness, this move is not completely harmless to the Heat. Miami has the pressure to reach the playoffs this season. Otherwise, the 2026 and 2028 lottery tickets will be handed over to the Thunder and Hornets respectively without protection. This makes it meaningless for the team to rob the lottery in a popular draft year even if they lose Butler’s strength next year. .
However, now that the Heat are still in the top eight, the team can still maintain their playoff qualifications without Butler. Regardless of whether Butler returns to the court or not, for the team, it is really just impossible. The avoided loss “gives Butler the maximum salary for these two years”; but in addition, if it is gone, he can also receive the goal of “slumping” next year and liberating the salary space. This is absolutely for Leary. It’s an affordable gamble.
On the other hand, Butler will be more embarrassed the longer he delays. He cannot leave the team before the trade deadline. Will he seriously return to play? Doesn’t the fight feel like a victory for Leary and the team? But don’t fight and continue to cause trouble? The team will most likely continue to collect evidence and force you to be banned from the game. If not, they can arrange a freeze, and they will continue to be too motivated to play for data, maintain the situation, and prove that they can play. In the end, there is a high probability that the injury will be due to your own value. Look at it horizontally and vertically. Look, Butler is the more disadvantaged and weaker side in this confrontation.
In the past, Butler, who was good at guiding and creating pressure from public opinion, was able to defeat the Timberwolves and the 76ers successively with a small enemy and a small number. However, now that he is getting older, he is facing another The “oil-headed” devil is more authoritative, tougher, and less tolerant of Ni Lin. What other tricks can he use to win? Is it possible to make a huge comeback in this conflict and become the ultimate winner who leaves singing?
Let’s see what new developments the two sides will bring us when the ban expires!
