Miami Heat: Take the latest Jimmy Butler reports with a grain of salt

The latest reports on Jimmy Butler and his free agency are a good sign for the Miami Heat. However, they must be taken lightly.

Over the last several days and weeks, there have been many assumptions made about where each player of this historic NBA Free Agent class will land. When it comes to the Miami Heat, a team that is virtually beyond cap strapped before the festivities even begin, there has fortunately been one name linked to them. As we all are aware, this player is Jimmy Butler.

As it was reported a little bit back, Jimmy Butler was at least willing to hear the Miami Heat out. Also as mentioned, these would have to be very floor show type of talks, as the Heat would surely have to do some salary cap gymnastics to even sniff at the thought of signing a player that is also surely looking for the max.

Well, it seems that these are hoops that the Miami Heat will have to be willing to jump through, while simultaneously walking the balance beam when it comes to the current and future fate of this Miami Heat team. As reported on by a multitude of sources, which include ESPN’s Zach Lowe and NBA Associated Press writer Tim Reynolds, Jimmy Butler is not only willing to listen to the Miami Heat’s pitch but is “very interested” in the Miami Heat.

That is a tweet on the Zach Lowe report. Although the actual piece is kind of muddled and includes a little bit of everything on free agency as a whole, he still found space enough to include that tidbit about Butler. Here is the tweet from Tim Reynolds.

In the words of Lloyd Christmas, Jim Carey’s character in the Dumb and Dumber series of films, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” Although that’s what the situation appears to be, here are two factors that aren’t being talked about enough when it comes to the potential of this signing actually occurring.

When looking at the situation, this could be or could not be actual news. Over the past few days alone, there have been numerous reports about what teams each free agent will meet or will not meet with, where players are headed, and who wants to team up with whom. Nevermind the reports that have been perpetuated for weeks about who is buying a house where and which player is upset or intrigued by what particular franchise.

Although some of these “reporters” and pundits are reputable for the most part, who’s to say that these are actual true reports, and not just good ole fashion clickbait. In essence, you have to be careful at what you actually perceive to be fact, as the reports are coming out, changing, and being denied just as fast as they are released.

Secondly, even if Butler were interested in joining the Miami Heat, it could only happen via a sign and trade agreement with the Philadelphia 76’ers. What would it take to get Philly to acquiesce to such a deal?

There is no doubt about it that it would take at least one of Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow, or Josh Richardson to facilitate such a deal, if not two of the three. Although most would probably deem either of them as a price they would be willing to pay to acquire a talent such as Jimmy Butler, isn’t that part of the allure of wanting him to join this team in the first place? The fact that he would be playing with these three players in particular, an uber-athletic defensive foursome that could wreak havoc if given the opportunity.

Although the opportunity to acquire Butler is as enticing to this guy as it is to anyone else, the chances and thus the reports of it potentially happening may all just be fodder, while the price might also be just a bit too steep. These are just a few of the reasons why until there are solid connections, meetings, or movements from both camps, these reports must be taken with the largest grain of salt.