ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania has fired back at Jimmy Butler’s agent after being accused of ‘fabricating’ a trade report.
Earlier this week, the First Take regular reported that the Miami Heat star is open to a trade to the Phoenix Suns, as well the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets.
Charania cited remarks Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, had allegedly made in “league circles”.
However, Lee caught wind of Charania’s report and shot it down saying it was completely ‘fabricated’.
“Alright, listen,” Lee wrote on X.
“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 b******* because you know you normally aren’t worth my time to acknowledge…”
“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,” the agent added.
“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.’”
“Shams, this is your opportunity to say my bad. I let ChatGPT write my tweets, and it went old-school Peter Vescey… Be a trendsetter… Invent the new. I was hacked. Carry on, all. Thank you,” Lee concluded.
Charania appeared on First Take the morning after, alongside Stephen A. Smith, where he doubled down on his initial report.
“I 1000% stand by my reporting. It’s fully vetted,” Charania said.
“And as a professional, that’s what I do, that’s what I get paid to do… report truthfully and accurately. That’s what this is. Period.”
“Anything associated to Jimmy’s position and using my name as the tool to cement a headline,” Lee clarified to the Miami Herald.
“Jimmy’s job is to perform at his job to the best of his many abilities and to drive that team to win.
“As of today, Jimmy analytically grades out as approximately the sixth-eighth best player in the NBA, and his team has almost a plus 10 point differential when his usage is over 20.
“The Golden State Warriors, when they won 73 games, were a plus 11.6. He’s doing his job really well, and that is the focus, which in turn makes it my focus.”
On Thursday, First Take’s Brian Windhorst added that Butler would prefer to sign an extension in Miami, but Pat Riley has not shown interest in making it happen so far.
Butler is in his sixth season with the Heat after signing in Miami as a free agent in 2019.
He has been a success in Florida, leading the team to two Eastern Conference titles while establishing himself as one of the league’s most effective playoff performers.
The 35-year-old Butler has a $52.4 million player option in 2025-26 that he can decline to enter free agency next offseason.
