Despite the fallout, Pat Riley isn’t second-guessing his controversial stance from the previous offseason, when he declined to offer Jimmy Butler a contract extension.
At the time, the Heat front office voiced concerns about Butler’s availability and long-term value.
“I’m not going to apologize for saying no on the contract extension,” Riley said on Friday. “We didn’t have to. I don’t think I should… It’s over. It’s done. I wish him well. Good luck to him. And I hope in his heart somewhere he wishes us well too.”
The move was seen by many as a turning point in the deteriorating relationship between Butler and the organization.
While some viewed it as a necessary business decision, others criticized the public nature of Riley’s remarks.
Either way, it set the stage for Butler’s eventual departure and a reset of the team’s direction.
Heat's Pat Riley Discusses Butler, Roster, Tax, Herro, More https://t.co/HjLIXwPGI2 pic.twitter.com/1CheZqu48r
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 10, 2025
