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“Damn, we about to be dope” — Caron Butler’s heartbreaking Miami Heat departure

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“Damn, we about to be dope” — Caron Butler’s heartbreaking Miami Heat departure


When the Miami Warmth landed Shaquille O’Neal within the 2004 offseason, their gamers have been doubtless thrilled to have the chance to be on the identical crew because the All-Star middle. A type of who was pumped was Caron Butler.

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I will always remember getting back from Antigua,” Butler recalled throughout a current episode of “All of the Smoke” podcast. “I used to be doing a Basketball With out Borders camp or clinic for the Miami Warmth. … I am strolling via the airport, they usually like, ‘Shaquille O’Neal coming to the Miami Warmth.’ I used to be like, ‘Rattling, we about to be dope.’

Brief-lived pleasure

Funnily sufficient, Butler’s pleasure was short-lived, as he realized he was a part of the commerce package deal that additionally included Lamar Odom and Brian Grant.

I used to be like, ‘Oh, sh*t, that is how this labored?’” Butler continued. “I assumed I used to be right here perpetually. I simply purchased a crib. I am unable to promote my crib.’ It was like all that emotional attachment. However that was only a loopy expertise.

Sadly for the 6-foot-7 ahead, he missed out on successful a title with the franchise that drafted him. O’Neal and Dwyane Wade led Miami to the championship within the 2006 Finals, with Wade rising as a drive to be reckoned with and O’Neal proving that he might play second fiddle to a different star.

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Enjoying with Kobe

Whereas Butler did not get to play alongside “The Large Diesel,” he was lucky to play with Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant – even when for only one season. Proper off the bat, he received to expertise how intense Bryant was, which Butler credit as what helped him change into an All-Star.

I will always remember Kobe signed a deal for $130-plus million,” Butler shared. “I am on the press convention, and it is truly a double press convention as a result of they’re introducing myself, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom to town of Los Angeles, after which Kobe signing this deal. And I will always remember that cash, after which the very first thing, he turned to the appropriate, stated to me was, ‘Get able to f*ck the black out. Get able to work out. Let’s take that sh*t to a different degree.‘ I am speaking concerning the blackout classes. The explanation why I used to be an All-Star participant, the explanation why I am within the teaching house is as a result of my time that I spent with Kobe Bryant.

The 42-year-old had already gushed concerning the blackout exercise up to now.

So, despite the fact that Butler can solely think about what it could have been wish to run with arguably probably the most dominant large man of all time, he most likely would not change it for the expertise of repping the Purple and Gold with the late Lakers legend.

Butler even is aware of that the late Bryant noticed him not simply as a teammate but additionally as a real buddy. He was positive of it after Kobe agreed to take part in his ebook, “Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA.”

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Oh, and the two-time All-Star nonetheless received his ring, successful a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.



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Miami, FL

CBS News Miami’s Jim Berry on UM hoops coach Jim Larrañaga

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CBS News Miami’s Jim Berry on UM hoops coach Jim Larrañaga


CBS News Miami’s Jim Berry on UM hoops coach Jim Larrañaga – CBS Miami

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Jim Larrañaga promised to turn football-crazy UM into a basketball school. Did I believe that he could? Honestly, absolutely not.

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Trade Proposal: Miami Heat Acquire Star Forward From Brooklyn Nets

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Trade Proposal: Miami Heat Acquire Star Forward From Brooklyn Nets


It doesn’t seem like those Miami Heat rumors will slow down anytime soon.

The Heat are one of many teams newly linked to Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. With speculation surrounding star Jimmy Butler, the Heat could make a move for Johnson. He was a 2019 first-round pick.

A potential trade between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets could look like:

Miami Heat receive: F Cam Johnson, G Shake Milton

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Brooklyn Nets receive: G Terry Rozier, 2029 first-round draft pick

For the Heat, Johnson becomes a consistent strong presence at forward. This season, he is averaging 20 points while shooting near 50 percent from the field for a rebuilding Nets team. The good thing about trading for Johnson is he isn’t just a half-season rental. He is on the books through the 2027 season. In this trade, the Heat also acquire guard Shake Milton, who has provided numerous solid games throughout his career. He could serve as a backup guard for a team that just lost Dru Smith for the season.

For the Nets, they are in a rebuild since moving on from their Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. They traded Dennis Schroder to the Warriors last week, signaling they’re willing to move significant pieces prior to the trade deadline. Acquiring Terry Rozier could give the Nets a scorer who has shown he can perform at a high level. However, the big piece of the deal is the unprotected 2029 first-round draft pick, which could be valuable down the line. The Nets could start stockpiling on draft picks by moving more players.

If the Heat make a move for Johnson, he could help the team re-establish themselves as contenders in the East.

Sean Jordan is a contributor to Miami Heat On Sports Illustrated. He can be reached at sjorda06@syr.edu.

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Jalen Suggs leads Orlando Magic in loss to Miami Heat

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Jalen Suggs leads Orlando Magic in loss to Miami Heat


After carrying the load offensively all night for a shorthanded Orlando Magic squad, the only thing Jalen Suggs could do was watch Tyler Herro as he sunk the game-winning shot for the Miami Heat to cap off a thriller from the Kaseya Center Thursday night.

The former Kentucky star spoiled a big night from the Gonzaga standout. Suggs finished with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the field, but it wasn’t enough as the Heat stormed back in the second half to beat the Magic, 89-88, on a 19-foot jumper in the final seconds from Herro.

“Sometimes you’ve just gotta tip your cap,” Suggs said of Herro’s go-ahead basket. “Even the last possession, I thought TQ [Trevelin Queen] played great defense, good contest, tough shot. So sometimes you’ve just gotta give the guy some props.”

The Magic leaned heavily on its 6-foot-5 guard from start to finish — as has been the case lately without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the lineup due to injury. Suggs came into Thursday averaging 18.4 points in 29.5 minutes over his last five contests. The Heat had a track record of stifling No. 1 options as of late, though that certainly wasn’t the case when trying to slow the Magic’s go-to guy. 

Suggs and company scored the first 14 points of the night and took a commanding 22-5 lead after the former fifth-overall pick knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter. 

The Heat chipped into the Magic’s lead heading into the second quarter before Suggs checked back in for the final minutes of the first half. He helped push the lead back to 14 points with a midrange jumper to make it 40-26, followed later by a 23-foot jumper. With just over a minute remaining, Suggs connected with Goga Bitadze on an alley-oop to make it 50-40 in favor of the Magic.

Orlando led by 10 going into the fourth quarter before the Heat scored six points in a 45-second span to make it 71-67 with 11:14 to play in regulation. Alec Burks went 3-for-3 at the charity stripe upon drawing a foul from Anthony Black while shooting from long distance. Burks connected on his next try from 25 feet on the ensuing possession. 

After former UCLA standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. made it a 1-point game, Burks put the Heat out in front 77-76 with 7:42 left. Suggs scored four points in a row to tie things at 80 apiece, but from there it was all Miami down the stretch. 

Herro finished with a team-high 20 points. Jaquez Jr. had 15 points while Burks and Terry Rozier combined to score 31 points off the bench for the Heat (15-13).

Tristan da Silva tallied 18 points and Bitadze recorded a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double but the Magic (19-13) suffered a loss for the fourth time in its last six contests. 

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