Pat Riley heat will not be traced back, done with Butler test

Miami – There is a photo that Heat President Pat Riley kept in his office. It is from Jimmy Butler, which is exhausted in game 5 of the NBA final in 2020 and caught the breath while he has sunk through a barrier that surrounded the place in Walt Disney World.

Moments like this are those who remember Riley.

To speak of Miami for the first time since his season, since Butler was suspended three times this season and was finally traded on the Golden State Warriors in February, said Riley-at his annual press conference at the end of the season-that he wishes Butler all the best and that he suspects that the former heat striker wants good things to do well for Miami.

“There is no doubt that what happened to Jimmy had an enormous impact on our team,” said Riley. “There is no doubt. So the money ends with me. I'll make this goal if you want it.”

It was at the same press conference in Riley a year ago, where some things really erode between the heat and butler. Butler was injured and could not play in Miami's defeat against Boston. A few days later, he made a remark at a Formula 1 race in Südflorida that the heat could have beaten the Celtics or New York Knicks if he could play.

Riley did not like this comment and stated so much at his event of the year. The relationship seemed to be tense from there. The heat declined to offer Butler an extension of two years by $ 113 million. Butler was repeatedly suspended and said he had lost his joy to play in Miami. And the team had no choice but to give it away.

“I will not apologize for saying no about an extension of the contract if we didn't have to,” said Riley. “And I don't think I should.”

When hard feelings remain from the Miami side, Riley didn't state that much Friday.

“It's over,” said Riley. “I wish him all the best, good luck for him, and I hope that he also wishes us well in his heart.”

The heat took 10th place in the Eastern Conference, made the playoffs through the play-in tournament as No. 8 seeds and was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers, which lost the last two games by 37 and 55 points.

Riley said that he does not expect the heat to travel back with practically the same squad next season, which means that the team will pursue business this summer. The heat has upgraded her squad to Riley's count, no less than 14 times in his 29 offsicks in Miami.

“I think we have to make changes,” he said. “There is no doubt that a change must be.”

Riley, who turned 80 in March, ended the heat for 30 years and said he had no plans to stop soon.

“I just turned 80 and I'm proud of it and 80 are the new 60,” said Riley. “I mean, that's how I look at it. I feel great. I am hellishly competitive.”

He said he met with the managing director Micky Arison and the CEO of the team, Nick Arison, who both told him to go forward.

However, there is an urgency – not because of its age, but because the heat does not look for a longer conversion towards championship disputes.

“It's a process,” said Riley. “But I will neither deal with a long process, nor is the property.”