Jimmy Butler will be traded very soon, leaving another franchise to recover from his departure.
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat will have yet another franchise player exit under disappointing circumstances, and everyone will say Heat Culture lives on.
Riley, as the old gunslinger who’s thrived in virtually every era of the NBA, will move on to his next big plan as team president, and he won’t be charred or look any worse for wear because of the equity he’s built in the court of public opinion.
Perhaps he’s earned that trust, especially when juxtaposed against Butler, who has no issue in looking like the villain even if he’s not.