ESPN’s Charania defends his report linking Suns to Jimmy Butler

ESPN reporter Shams Charania defended his Wednesday report that linked the Phoenix Suns and three other teams to trade speculation around Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Visiting with ESPN morning show First Take on Thursday, Charania said he “1000%” stands by his report.

“It’s fully vetted and as a professional, that’s what I do, that’s what I get paid to do, that’s what I’m going to do: report truthfully and accurately,” Charania said. “That’s what it is, period.

“I 1000% stand by it. It is 1000% facts.”

"I 1000% stand by my reporting. It's fully vetted. 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."

Shams Charania responds to Jimmy Butler's agent Bernie Lee.pic.twitter.com/8GmyxMHHUT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 12, 2024

Charania’s story posted Wednesday said that, “according to league sources, Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, expressed in league circles that he was open to” joining the four teams. The ESPN reporter a day prior had named the Warriors, Mavericks and Rockets as potential destinations for Butler.

Lee used  his social media account to not only shoot down the report but also call Charania’s work “made up (expletive)” and “fabricated.”

Lee’s three-post string on X earned a repost from Heat owner Micky Arison as well.

“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 (expletive) because you know you normally arent worth my time to acknowledge,” Lee wrote on X.

“World… all this is fabricated. … it wouldn’t help me or the position I represent to do anything that’s been reported by said ‘journalist,'” Lee continued. “Shams this is your opportunity to say my bad … I let chat GPT write my tweets …”

Charania is two months into his job after taking over ESPN’s primary NBA reporter position after Adrian Wojnarowski retired from the media business and joined the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team as general manager.

Is a Jimmy Butler trade even possible for the Heat and Suns?

The range of complexities in the Suns’ link to Butler is wide.

It starts with wondering why the multiple parties named would be better off with such a deal.

Among the list of necessities for this to be a thing:

1. Does Bradley Beal want to be on the Heat? He has a no-trade clause and the Suns above the second apron can only trade him, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in a Butler swap

2. Does Butler want to share the court with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker? He’s not asked for a trade from Miami and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes Butler ideally would like to reach an extension with Miami.

3. Do the Heat want Beal? Miami was linked to the then-Washington Wizards star before Phoenix dealt for Beal before last season. Beal has said while he liked Miami as a destination, he got no indication the Heat were pushing to land him.

4. The Heat are a few million away from being a second apron team like Phoenix. Miami would have to send a veteran’s minimum contract out along with Butler to remain under the apron.

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