We’re not halfway through the 2024-25 NBA season, and yet trade rumors are heating up.

The hottest rumor has linked LeBron James to the Warriors once again, but ESPN’s Shams Charania has started reporting that the Heat would move star Jimmy Butler in the right deal.

The Heat are currently 12-10 and hold the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. There isn’t a real impetus to get a deal done, but Butler has a player option for next season, making him a potential free agent in the offseason.

Charania looped Butler’s name into the James trade talks regarding the Warriors. He then doubled down, connecting Butler to the Suns in a possible move. The second claim was too much for Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, who Charania quoted in the posts. The agent responded to Charania’s posts and called out the ESPN analyst. 

Here is what Lee said to Charania on X, formerly Twitter.

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What did Jimmy Butler’s agent say to Shams Charania?

This is Charania’s first year at ESPN after former NBA analyst Adrian Wojnarowski left the company.

On Wednesday, Charania posted that the Suns “are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to.” Charania also indicated that Miami is willing to listen to offers for Butler from Dallas, Houston and Golden State. 

The Phoenix Suns are another team that Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star is open to as a destination while Miami listens to trade offers, sources tell ESPN, joining Dallas, Houston and Golden State. pic.twitter.com/QCXA2uEMXt

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2024

This post was the one that pushed Lee over the edge. Lee quoted the post with three responses that have since gone viral.

“Alright listen,” Lee started. “I gave you a pass yesterday because I was busy but if you don’t stop putting my name on your complete and utter made up bull— because you know you normally arent worth my time to acknowledge.”

Lee references a pass that he gave to Charania the day before. Here is the post he is referencing:

The Heat are open to listening to offers for Jimmy Butler, league sources told ESPN, and the six-time All-Star is believed to prefer a win-now contender in any trade. https://t.co/ifbfJY7ZPw

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 10, 2024

Lee continued to call out Charania, who had not deleted any of his tweets or walked back his report that the Heat were open to moving Butler.

I don’t know what I’m going to do because I’m a middle aged dad but just know it would indicate severe dislike. World… all this is fabricated. I have never and honestly it wouldn’t help me or the position I represent to do anything that’s been reported by said “journalist” https://t.co/1KOXza9SKg

— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024

The last post may be the most intense. The best way to insult an analyst’s posts is to say they are using AI with their reporting. 

Shams this is your opportunity to say my bad “I let chat GPT write my tweets and it went old school Peter Vescey..” (Shams Peter was a writer in the 90’s) be a trend setter.. invent the new I was hacked. Carry on all. Thank you. https://t.co/1KOXza9kUI

— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024 

Charania addressed Lee’s tweets on Dec. 12, saying, “I 1000 percent stand by my reporting.”

“It’s fully vetted and as a professional, that’s what I do, that’s what I get paid to do, that’s what I’m going to do — report truthfully and accurately. That’s what this is, period,” Charania continued.

MORE: Why the Warriors are a real threat to acquire Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler trade rumors

Shams initially said that Miami would be open to listening to offers for Butler. He added that the star would want to be traded to a team in win-now mode.

Interestingly, Charania singled out Phoenix, which is currently 12-11. The roster is solid, but the Suns have dealt with injuries to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The other teams linked to Butler in Dallas (16-9), Houston (17-8) and Golden State (14-10) all have better records. 

A six-time All-Star, Butler is averaging 19.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists through 17 games.

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