"I 1000% Stand By My Reporting" - Shams Is Now Fighting Back Against Jimmy Butler's Agent By Going On TV And Doubling Down On His Reporting

What did I tell you last night? We're only at the start of this entire Jimmy Butler trade saga. I'm sorry if you're already sick of it, but as I said last night we're only just getting started. 

While initially the only thing that was causing the buzz was Shams reporting the teams of interest, things took a much more personal turn last night when Jimmy Butler's agent basically hopped on Twitter and openly called Shams a fraud

Once Bernie Lee went on that rant, I think we all knew what was coming today. Last night was his opportunity to take his shots, and today was Shams' turn to respond and throw a couple of his own

Live look at Shams

Alright, so who's lying? You're out of your mind if you think Shams was going to go on TV today and declare that he in fact made it all up. There was a 0.0% chance that was happening. His doubling/tripling down on his reporting was the most obvious response of all time and really his only move.

While in the moment last night, I sort of saw Butler's agent's side, now I'm not sure what to believe. It's certainly been reported previously that Butler and his camp were exploring the market to see if anyone out there would trade and then extend him since the Heat wouldn't this past summer. That's no different from what Shams had said, only he put the names of teams that Butler's camp prefers. It certainly wouldn't be the first time Jimmy Butler made his trade negotiations/plans public, and honestly, it goes further than just Shams' reporting.

The Heat just the other day said they weren't too worried about Butler in free agency, since no contender has the space to bring Butler in without the Heat's help in a S&T. So what do we get as a follow up? Guess who's interested in a team on the market that might not have max space, but has a shit ton of space? 

Hmmm, where do we think this "report" may have come from? Could it be possible this is yet another public leverage play in an effort to force MIA to give Butler his extension? You throw out the idea that there's a free agent destination as a possibility, it changes how the Heat have to treat the situation.

Then you also add in this "reporting" from Windy, about how Butler actually wants to stay in MIA. Where do we think that came from?

Sure sounds to me like his agent is pretty busy getting a couple of narratives out there in the public right? So when you follow all the breadcrumbs, it starts to feel like maybe Shams was telling the truth and it's actually the agent that's full of shit? His public declaration of war against Shams' reporting makes a whole lot more sense if you believe he's still trying to get an extension out of Pat Riley. Deny that Butler wants to be traded, leak that he wants to stay in MIA, but then also light the fire under the Heat by saying he has options on the market even if they don't want to trade him/extend him.

As more and more comes out, it sure sounds like this may all just be a failed plan by Jimmy Butler's camp and now the agent is trying to save face by attempting to discredit Shams. If that's what is actually happening, then credit to Shams for standing 10 toes down and fighting back. Agents try and manipulate a narrative all the time if it's in the best interest of their clients, and I guess when that fails the move is to attack the messenger in an attempt to distract from the message.

Anyway, can't wait for tomorrow's update!