Is Dany Ainge To Thank For Jimmy Butler Landing With The Miami Heat?
If it wasn’t for then Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge's belief in his scouting department, Jimmy Butler may have never signed with the Miami Heat.
On an episode of the Knuckleheads podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, Ainge revealed he attempted to trade for Butler during his time in Chicago.
"Some of the best trades I ever made were the ones I wasn't able to make, you know, like I was trying to get Jimmy Butler from Chicago when I was in Boston, but they wanted a lot and so we didn't do it," Ainge said. "It ended up would’ve been Jaylen [Brown] and Jayson [Tatum], both those draft picks that we got Jaylen and Jayson with... I loved Jimmy and was trying to get him. Could’ve drafted Jimmy late. I liked him even then, but like now he'd be proving that how good of a player he was."
After his stint in Chicago, Butler spent two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers before signing with the Heat.
Looking back, Ainge likely does not regret his decision, as Tatum and Brown have blossomed into All-Stars. However, if Ainge had been willing to give up additional first-round picks, Butler may still be in a Boston uniform to this day.
Butler has led the Heat to the Finals twice in the last four years.
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Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at anthonypasciolla36@gmail.com or follow him on Tik Tok @anthonysports_
