All good things must come to an end. That much is true in any walk of life, but it’s especially true in sports. Nothing lasts forever, and that includes relationships between players and teams. The most recent example is currently unfolding, with the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler going through a disastrous end to his tenure. On Friday, after several concerning Butler quotes, the Heat decided to suspend him and look for a trade partner.
This isn’t the first time Butler has essentially forced his way out of a prominent franchise. Butler was traded three times in back-to-back-to-back years, ultimately landing him in Miami in 2019. Butler’s time in Miami has lasted quite a while, but he’s not getting any younger and wants a ring before he retires. Still, the Heat made the NBA Finals twice with Butler, so who saw him calling it quits midway through this season? Paul Pierce did.
Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler criticizes media for talking about Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce called Jimmy Butler trade happening back in December
The former Boston Celtics star, who shared NBA courts with Butler for a few seasons, took to social media to remind fans of a “hot take” he delivered a month ago. He mentioned back in early December on the Dan Le Batard Show that Butler wouldn’t finish the year in Miami.
Things were relatively quiet back when Pierce said that, so he clearly had a good inside source who knew there was trouble brewing. At the time, it didn’t sit right with Heat fans due to Pierce’s history with the Celtics and their rivalry with Miami. But Pierce can confidently say he was right, and he will be trusting his sources more than usual from now on.
