Heat President Pat Riley “won’t apologize for Jimmy Butler trade

There is a photo to Miami heat President Pat Riley stores in his office. It’s Jimmy Butler, exhausted in game 5 of 2020. Years NBA The finals, gripping breath as they fell on the barrier that surrounded the Court on the Walt Disney world.

Moments like those are those who riley decide to remember.

Speaking for the first time from Butler, he was suspended three times in February, Riley, “said Butler well and suspects that Butler was well and suspected that he was deep in the depth and attacked and attacked and attacked and attacked with good things.

“There is no doubt that what happened to Jimmy had a huge impact on our team,” Riley said. “There’s no doubt about that. So the dollar stops with me. I’ll guess that if you want it.”

It was a year ago in Riley a year ago where some can say things between heat and butler really started eroding. Butler was injured and could not play in Miami’s loss of the first round of Boston, and then a few days later made the Formula 1 Race on South Florida, when he could play warmth could be beaten Celtics or New York.

Riley did not like that comment and indicated as at the end of the year. The relationship seemed tilted from there. Heat refused to offer a 103 million dollar extension, Butler continually suspended and said he lost joy for playing Miami, and the team had no choice but if he had no choice.

“I will not apologize for not saying not on the extension of the contract when we didn’t have,” Riley said. “And I don’t think I should.”

If any hard feelings remain on the side of Miami, Riley did not indicate so much Friday.

“It’s over,” Riley said. “I wish him well, good luck and I hope deeply in his heart wants and good somewhere.”

The heat going forward

Riley said he didn’t expect the heat to “drive back” with practically the same Roser next season, which means that the team will persecute the trade this summer.

Heat – which ended 10. At the Eastern Conference, he played through the tournament and plays and then swallowed at 37 and 55 points, or have a cold of his lists, or less than 14 times in his 29th parties in Miami.

“I think we have to change,” Riley said. “There is no doubt that there must be some changes.”

Riley at 80

In March, Riley turned 80 years old, it was for warmth for 30 years and says it is not planned not to stop stopping soon.

“I just turned 80 and I’m proud of that and 80 is new 60,” Riley said. “I think. I look into it so. I feel great. I’m competitive like hell.”

He said he met with the man governed by the General Partner Micki Arison and the Nick Arison’s executive director, both told him to go ahead.

“They said,” Continue, Pat, “Riley said.” And I’ll continue and try to do this better. “

However, there is an urgency – not because of his age, but because the heat does not seek the long diverting back towards the championship.

“It’s a process,” Riley said. “But I won’t deal with a long process, nor is it owned.”

Reporting associated press.

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