Six years ago, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago Bulls</a> tried to make a run at an <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> championship by stacking up veteran stars. They got Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade next to Jimmy Butler, and the fans were excited.



Even though they were both seemingly in the backend of their primes, Rondo and Wade gave the team a big veteran boost. Nonetheless, they still fell in the first round of the playoffs.



Looking back, Rondo believes Wade’s and Butler’s attitude was the main reason why they couldn’t beat the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics</a>, as they ostracized themselves from the rest of the team.



<h2>Rondo Blames Butler And Wade For Bulls’ Shortcomings</h2>



“Chemistry, it wasn’t there. Like I mentioned earlier, Jimmy and D-Wade, they kind of were on their own. As far as I guess even in practice, even off the court,” Rondo said on the Old Man And The Three.



“Like again, every team is different, there’s nothing wrong with that,” he continued. “But there wasn’t really a connect between the old guys and the young. And that was why it was so much friction throughout the year.“


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Bulls’ young players seemed to agree, and it didn’t take long before the pair of stars left the Windy City. That’s not the kind of veteran leadership one would expect from players of their caliber, and they simply didn’t stand a chance to get past that.

Rajon Rondo blames Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler for 2017 Bulls failure

Rajon Rondo blames Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler for 2017 Bulls failure - Bolavip US

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<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> once again proved why he’s one of the most beloved players in today’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> star put the team on his back last season, almost taking the franchise to a long-awaited championship.



The 33-year-old had his foot on the gas from the beginning of the playoffs and did not let up. Butler stepped up when it mattered the most, scoring crucial points to keep his team’s aspirations alive.



His fantastic performances drew comparisons with other Heat legends, as he looks destined to have his jersey retired in South Florida. But according to Andre Iguodala, Butler also reminds him of Kobe Bryant.



<h2>Andre Iguodala says Jimmy Butler’s mentality reminds him of Kobe Bryant</h2>



“You always look back and say ‘how is Jimmy getting it done?’ He can’t shoot threes, can’t go left. Whatever they say about Jimmy he figured it out,” Iguodala said on the Gil’s Arena podcast.



“I see him dribble with the right hand left and pull-up for three against Milwaukee this year. He’s probably the closest that I’ve seen to Kobe Bryant with that mentality of just man, Jimmy will figure out a way for us to win… This dude got a Kobe Bryant will.”


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Butler definitely has something special apart from his talent, and that’s his competitive nature. While any Kobe comparisons will always make noise, the Heat star certainly has a desire to win that makes those around him better.

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant

Former NBA champion compares Jimmy Butler to Kobe Bryant - Bolavip US

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> is full of what-ifs. What if the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> traded <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kobe-bryant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kobe Bryant</a>? What if Kevin Garnett never left the Minnesota Timberwolves? What if Draymond Green didn’t get suspended?



No franchise has a perfect track record with this kind of thing. That’s why being a GM is so difficult, as every minor — or major — move you make could have huge implications.



That could’ve been the case when Danny Ainge almost convinced the Chicago Bulls to trade Jimmy Butler. However, to get him, he would’ve have to give up the picks that ended up being Jayson Tatum and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaylen Brown.</a>



<h2>Danny Ainge Almost Landed Jimmy Butler</h2>



“Some of the best trades I ever made were the ones I wasn’t able to make,” Ainge said on the Knuckleheads podcast. “You know like I was trying to get Jimmy Butler from Chicago when I was in Boston, but they wanted a lot. And so we didn’t do it.“



“It ended up, it would’ve been Jaylen and Jayson — Both those draft picks that we got Jaylen and Jayson with,” Ainge explained. “So, that was one where I loved Jimmy and was trying to get him. That was probably one.”


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As great as Butler is, I believe most Celtics fans would rather get two young stars instead of just one. At the end of the day, time proved Ainge was right to kill this deal.

The trade that almost sent Jimmy Butler to the Boston Celtics

The trade that almost sent Jimmy Butler to the Boston Celtics - Bolavip US

Trading for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> in 2019 was the best decision the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> made in a long time. The 6x <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> All-Star made the team competitive again, helping it reach two NBA Finals in four years.



His competitive nature and leadership skills made Butler a fan favorite in South Florida, where he hopes to win a highly desired championship. He came close in 2020 and 2023, but it’s still a pending task.



However, things could have been very different for both. Danny Ainge revealed in an interview with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles in the Players’ Tribune podcast Knuckleheads that he tried to get Butler for the Boston Celtics.



<h2>Former Celtics GM Danny Ainge reveals he tried to get Butler</h2>



“Some of the best trades I ever made were the ones I wasn’t able to make,” Ainge said, as quoted by ClutchPoints. “I was trying to get Jimmy Butler from Chicago when I was in Boston, but they wanted a lot. So we didn’t do it. And it ended up being Jaylen [Brown] and Jayson [Tatum]. Both of those draft picks.”


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It’s safe to say that both Heat fans and Butler are glad that this didn’t come to fruition, as they are perfectly happy together. The Celtics, however, found a way to grow with Brown and Tatum. Now they only need to go the distance and win a championship to silence the doubts.

NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler could have been traded to another team in the East

NBA: Jimmy Butler could have been traded to another team in the East - Bolavip US

The 2023-24 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> season is still a few months away from us, but many teams are already looking forward to dethroning the Nuggets. Jimmy Butler’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> and LeBron James’ <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Los Angeles Lakers</a>, for instance, are teams to watch heading into next year.



The purple and gold have been aggressive this offseason, aiming to build on their trip to the Conference Finals to take a step forward next time. On the other hand, Miami also hopes to get the job done in 2024 after coming so close in June.



The Heat seem to be just another superstar away from winning the championship, which is why Pat Riley is working to get Damian Lillard on board. In the meantime, they have reportedly signed a former Laker.



<h2>Heat reportedly sign former Laker Cole Swider</h2>



According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Miami Heat are signing Cole Swider, who was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers in July after spending last season with them on a two-way contract.


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The 24-year-old only played 41 minutes for the purple and gold, but he had more playing time with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, making 32 appearances. With Max Strus and Gabe Vincent gone, the Heat needed another shooter.

NBA Rumors: Butler's Heat sign former teammate of LeBron at Lakers - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler's Heat sign former teammate of LeBron James at Lakers

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jimmy Butler</a> faced some mockery and backlash when he left the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia 76ers</a> to join the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat.</a> Some claimed he’d never win a ring in South Beach with that roster.



But Butler has actually gone further into the playoffs than the Sixers since he arrived in South Beach, even making it to the NBA Finals twice in just four years with the team.



Butler is the undisputed alpha dog in Erik Spoelstra’s team. And as such, he’s going to demand a steep payday, with Heat writer Ira Winderman predicting that he could ask for more money than Jaylen Brown got from the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics.</a>



<h2>Jimmy Butler Could Fetch Historically Lucrative Deal</h2>



“And what likely will have Jimmy Butler asking for an extension soon enough, in essence asking for something even beyond Jaylen Brown money,” Winderman wrote.



“The numbers are numbing: $52.4 million in 2024-25, $56.6 million in 2025-26, $60.8 million in 2026-27, $64.9 million in 2027-28 and $69.1 million in 2028-29,” Winderman wrote. “So, yes, the 82-game NBA is on the brink of $1 million per-game salaries.”


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At the end of the day, that’s just the way things go in the league. What looks like a crazy deal one day it’s a bargain the other. It won’t be long before that happens with Brown’s contract.

Jimmy Butler could slap the Heat with massive request - Bolavip US

Jimmy Butler could slap the Heat with massive request

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> has been on a tour of China after losing the 2023 NBA Championship to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/denver-nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a> in what was his second Finals loss. However, he remains steadfast as a Miami Heat player, and it’s likely that they’ll go just as far next season as they did last.



The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> are not the only team that will be considered favorites or contenders for next season. The defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, look solid as a brick wall, and other teams like the Lakers and 76ers are also aspiring to the same.



The loss that the Miami Heat suffered against the Nuggets was painful, but they have a good roster, including Jimmy Butler, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/bam-adebayo">Bam Adebayo</a>, and a top-notch bench that plays a key role in winning games.



<h2>Who could win the 2023-2024 NBA Championship according to Jimmy Butler?</h2>



During the end of his recent trip to China, Jimmy ended his tour in Hong Kong where he answered some questions. He said that he believes the Miami Heat will win the NBA Championship next season because they have good defense and depth. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I gonna pick the Miami Heat to win the 2024 NBA Championship,” he said.



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During the interview, Jimmy also said that it was disappointing for them to come up short in the finals, but that it was part of the game. He also said that everyone is focused on improving individually so that they can work better as a group.

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NBA: Jimmy Butler predicts the winner of the 2023-2024 season - Bolavip US

NBA: Jimmy Butler predicts the winner of the 2023-2024 season

The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> had a remarkable campaign in the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals, but <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> and company still fell short from the ultimate goal, which is to win a championship. That’s why <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/damian-lillard">Damian Lillard</a> is their primary target.



Everyone at the organization, from Pat Riley to the last player on the roster, feel that winning a ring is possible. Miami came close in the last few years, but it always looked like they lacked another star to make it happen.



Negotiations are reportedly ongoing with the Portland Trail Blazers, who don’t want to let Dame go so easily. But in the meantime, the Heat seem to have another target on their sights.



<h2>Rumor: Heat could sign Christian Wood</h2>



According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, the Miami Heat could be a landing spot for free agent center Christian Wood, who spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks:



“Sources also believe that the Miami Heat could be a suitor for Wood, particularly if they’re able to pull off a Damian Lillard trade.”


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Wood, however, has also been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. If Miami can finally unblock Lillard’s exit from Portland, landing Wood would give them more depth behind Bam Adebayo.

NBA Rumors: Heat could help Jimmy Butler with another signing apart from Damian Lillard - Bolavip US

NBA Rumors: Heat could help Jimmy Butler with another signing apart from Damian Lillard

Following an unlikely trip to the 2023 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> Finals, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> and the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a> have to figure out not only how to continue being competitive, but also how to win the championship next time.



The team has certainly enjoyed making deep playoff runs in the last few years, but the feeling of falling short is also a bit frustrating. That’s why the Heat are expected to find a way to upgrade their roster.



But so far, Miami has mostly lost players during the offseason. Key contributors such as Gabe Vincent and Max Strus left in free agency, but the team has also lost depth ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.



<h2>Report: Former Heat center Omer Yurtseven signs for Jazz</h2>



According to NBA insider Bobby Marks of ESPN, the Utah Jazz have signed free agent center Omer Yurtseven on a two-year deal. The Turkish player hit the open market after spending the last two seasons in Miami.



Yurtseven is another case of an undrafted player the Heat added to their roster in recent years. He didn’t have much playing time, but his presence gave the team some depth behind Bam Adebayo.


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Either way, the Heat’s priority right now seems to be to find a way to get Lillard out of Portland. The Blazers haven’t made things easy, so the negotiations could drag on for weeks (or months).

NBA News: Jimmy Butler loses a Heat teammate to the Jazz - Bolavip US

NBA News: Jimmy Butler loses a Heat teammate to the Jazz

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> is one of the few players who fully commits to a franchise like no other player in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a>. He has already realized that the Miami Heat is the team he always needed to become the player he is today.



However, he is also an ambitious player who is hungry to win an NBA championship. This has been one of Butler’s goals since he arrived in Miami a couple of years ago.


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The Miami Heat has one of the best rosters in the league. They are dominant thanks to the fact that Coach Spoelstra knows how to get the most out of players like Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.



<h2>What did Jimmy Butler say about his future with the Miami Heat?</h2>



During his tour in China, Jimmy Butler said that he believes he will win an NBA championship with the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>. He wants to spend the rest of his career playing in Miami and retire as a Heat player. He said, “I believe that with all my heart, that we, I, will win a championship for the Miami Heat because I don’t plan on playing for another NBA team after the Miami Heat. I’ll be better, we’ll all be better as a unit, and then the next time I’m talking to you all here, I’ll be a one-time NBA champion.”



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"I believe that with all my heart, that we, I, will win a 🏆 for the Miami Heat because I don&apos;t plan on playing for another NBA team after the Miami Heat… I&apos;ll be better, we&apos;ll all be better as a unit, and then the next time I&apos;m talking to ya&apos;ll here, I&apos;ll be a one-time NBA… <a href="https://t.co/mqgMKxlKPc">pic.twitter.com/mqgMKxlKPc</a>— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) <a href="https://twitter.com/naveenganglani/status/1681127867353292805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Butler has played in two NBA Finals. He made his first appearance in the 2019-2020 season when the Miami Heat lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2. He most recently appeared in the Finals against the Denver Nuggets, where they lost 4-1.

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NBA: Jimmy Butler reveals his future plans with the Miami Heat - Bolavip US

NBA: Jimmy Butler reveals his future plans with the Miami Heat

Love is in the air for globally acclaimed singer <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/shakira">Shakira</a>, as reports surface about her alleged new romance with none other than <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jimmy-butler">Jimmy Butler</a> from the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>. The Grammy-winning artist seems to have found a special connection with the talented basketball player, creating a buzz among fans and media alike.



This unexpected pairing adds another intriguing chapter to Shakira’s dating history, which includes past links to high-profile figures like F1 driver <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lewis-hamilton">Lewis Hamilton</a> and actor <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/tom-cruise">Tom Cruise</a>. Notably, her presence at the Silverstone Grand Prix further fueled speculation surrounding her romantic adventure with Hamilton.


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However, the Colombian singer might be going out to another sports figure. Shakira had long been associated with former Barcelona player Gerard Pique, with whom she shared a significant chapter of her life. This new development marks an exciting twist in her romantic journey.



<h2>Shakira Reportedly Dating Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler</h2>



The age difference doesn’t seem to be an issue for Shakira, considering she is 46 years old while Butler is 33. As the news of Shakira and Butler’s alleged relationship spreads, fans and followers eagerly anticipate further updates on this blossoming romance. Their unique backgrounds and experiences in the world of entertainment and sports make them an intriguing pair to watch.



“Shakira and Butler were spotted arriving at London hotspot Novikov Restaurant &amp; Bar on Wednesday, July 12. They have been out a few times, but things are very new and it’s too early to tell if there’s long-term potential there”, Michelle McGahan of the US Weekly reported.

Jimmy Butler