In a series of heated tweets, Bernie Lee, the agent of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, publicly called out NBA insider Shams Charania for spreading what he claims are fabricated trade rumors.
The controversy began when Charania reported that Butler was open to being traded to teams like the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors.
Lee took to X (formerly Twitter) to vehemently deny Charania’s claims, accusing the journalist of making up stories.
“Alright listen. 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 bullshit because you know you normally aren’t worth my time to acknowledge,” Lee wrote. He continued, “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. 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 chat GPT write my tweets and it went old school Peter Vescey..’. be a trend setter.. invent the new I was hacked. Carry on all. Thank you,” Lee added.
Alright listen. 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 bullshit because you know you normally arent worth my time to acknowledge.. (continued) https://t.co/1KOXza9kUI
— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) December 11, 2024
Despite the swirling rumors, Butler himself seemed unfazed. When asked about the trade speculation, he responded,
“I actually like it. It’s good to be talked about. I don’t think there’s such a thing as bad publicity – to a point. But if somebody is talking about me getting traded, that’s a lot. It’s fine with me. It doesn’t bother me one bit and I do appreciate it. I appreciate going out there and hooping and I appreciate being efficient, being effective and helping my team win. I don’t ever take playing basketball for anybody for granted”.
The public spat between Bernie Lee and Shams Charania highlights the intense scrutiny and pressure surrounding NBA trade rumors. While Lee’s strong denial and humorous jab at Charania’s reporting have added a layer of drama, Butler’s calm and collected response underscores his focus on the game and his team.
