Heat’s ‘accounting error’ led to Jimmy Butler’s salary being wrong

The the saga between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler continues to develop, although no progress appears to have been made in terms of trade.

While Butler has made it clear he no longer wants to be in Miami, and the Heat have made it clear they’d prefer to be traded, the two sides are still together for now. But the longer things go on, the more vague, leaked information we’ll obviously get.

The latest development is that, according to According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Heat did not pay Butler for the period during the summer.

“There was something else that went wrong with Jimmy at the end of last summer,” Haynes said on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugoc. “Jimmy and his camp were made aware of a clerical — or, excuse me — accounting error late last summer.” He did not receive a salary during that period. It took the team about 10 days to fix it, but this has never happened before. All of this is happening on top of the accounting error that delayed his salary. Things started to feel a little off at that point.”

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How small a summer salary delay is is up for debate, but the fact that Haines is reporting it means someone thinks it’s important enough to mention at this point. Also indicates how poisonous things are you got whether an accounting error would be something important to tell a reporter.

After last season’s first-round playoff exit thanks to the Boston Celtics, Butler said the Heat would have had the New York Knicks and Boston, the eventual NBA champions, had he been healthy during the postseason. Not long after that, Heat president Pat Riley said Butler should “keep your mouth shut in your criticism of those teams”.

Butler was reportedly pushed back by Riley’s comments, but it appears the crux of the issue between the Heat star and the organization is Butler’s contract. Butler, 35, is making $48.8 million this season and, if he picks up his player option in June, will make $52.4 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent a few months before he turns 37.

Arguably past his prime, Butler is understandably looking for a high-dollar extension. The Heat, however, were reportedly hesitant to do so, especially after comments made by Riley in which the executive emphasized the importance of consistent play in the regular season. Butler hasn’t played more than 65 games in a regular season since 2016-17.

While Butler supposedly wants to be changed to Phoenix SunsBradley Beal, the supposed centerpiece of every major Suns trade, has a no-trade clause. In addition, the Heat would seem much more comfortable letting Butler decline his player option this summer, freeing them from any $50 million-plus liability.