Dwyane Wade breaks silence on ‘tragic’ Heat Jimmy Butler-Pat Riley feud

With the drama between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler continuesone voice that contributed is the legend of his team Dwiane Wade on the latest episode of his “Why” podcast. How is February 6 the trade deadline appears to be important for the Heat if they decide to trade Butler, Wade would give his honest thoughts on both sides as a star player and team president Pat Riley.

Wade would briefly talk about the great accomplishments Butler had with Miami as the organization needed a big star after he retired in 2018. What would result were two NBA Finals and other great seasons, but he would also talk about how the relationship ends “tragic.”

“The Heat was a soft landing spot for Jimmy, and Jimmy was exactly the star that the Heat needed for six years — the Finals, the big moments they had together,” Wade said. “It ends tragically, this is tragic.” This is a tragic way to end a relationship. So, as a former player, it’s ugly for our franchise, it’s a stain on our franchise that we continue to have the way that relationships break up. But also, on the other hand, you don’t run that organization as a player. So sometimes you get to that space where you want to do things your way. That’s the Pat Riley way.”

Dwyane Wade calls Jimmy Butler and Hatt situation ‘ugly’

One aspect Wade would mention is the prediction that it doesn’t exist communication between Heth and Butler which would ring true according to recent reports of both sides trying to shift the issues. He would admit how “ugly” the situation was in the team, but also expressed how Riley is “back” and rules with an “iron fist”.

“There’s a lot going on, it’s just ugly because I know there’s no communication,” Wade said. “Ultimately, it’s ego, it’s pride, it’s a fight for position and it’s ugly for our organization.” But at the same time, from a person who was inside the organization, an iron fist. If we’re going to be like that, let’s be like that. And the things we’ve heard as former players, we don’t like. We didn’t get away with it (expletive). We didn’t get away with it. But Pat Riley, he’s back.”

The event that the NBA Hall of Fame would point to is his speech when he The Heat built a statue of Wade outside the arena where he addressed the current team. Wade would talk about how a “divided house” won’t work well within an organization that has built a distinct culture since he was at the point where he left Miami for the Chicago Bulls after contract disputes.

Dwiane Wade talks about the speech of a “divided house”.

“A house divided will not stand on its own,” Wade said late last year. “Do you hear that?” Current Miami Heat players, have you heard that? A house divided by itself will not stand. You’re either in or you’re out.”

“I stood up and said that because the grass isn’t always greener,” Wade said of the speech on his podcast. “As someone who’s been in that situation before … when I left the organization, I wanted them to know that if you don’t want to be here and how things work here and you don’t like it, then don’t be here.”

He would later talk about how there were players who left Miami due to some differences with Riley and the organization, including not only him, but LeBron James. The same is currently happening with Butler who expressed lost “joy” playing basketball and answered “probably not” when asked if it could come back with the heat.

Butler would be suspended for seven games for “conduct detrimental to the team” as Wade would say that whatever happens to a player, they will answer to Riley and then “you’ll see who laughs last.”

“When I look at the organization and I look at all the players that came through, yeah, a lot of guys left and a lot of top guys left because we ran into that guy (Riley),” Wade said. “We ran into that guy and when you run into that guy in Miami, you see who wins. You will see who will have the last laugh.”

The Heat will host the Denver Nuggets on Friday, where Butler is eligible to play, barring any action.