Riley responds to the Butler trade for the first time: The responsibility for the impact on the team is huge but I will not apologize for it

On May 10, Beijing time, according to ESPN, there was a photo in the office of Pat Riley, the president of the Heat. The photo freezes in Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals, with Jimmy Butler exhausted, slumped over the courtside guardrail at Disney World Arena, gasping for breath.

Such moments are deeply imprinted in Riley's memory.

This season, Butler was suspended three times by the Heat before being traded to the Warriors in February. Riley first spoke about the matter at the annual season wrap-up press conference, where he sent his best wishes to Butler and said he believes deep down the former Heat forward wants all the best for his former club Miami.

Riley admitted: "There's no doubt that what happened to Jimmy had a huge impact on our team, there's no doubt about that. So, the responsibility is on me. If someone is to be held accountable, I am willing to bear it. ”

About a year ago, at a press conference hosted by Riley, the Heat's relationship with Butler began to crack. At that time, Butler missed the Heat's first-round game against Boston due to injury, and the team ultimately lost. A few days later, he made casual remarks at an F1 race in South Florida that the Heat could have beaten the Celtics or the New York Knicks if he had been able to play.

Riley was unhappy with this and made it clear at the year-end press conference, and the relationship between the two sides has been increasingly strained ever since. The Heat refused to offer Butler a two-year, $113 million contract extension, and Butler was repeatedly suspended and said he was no longer fun playing in Miami, leaving him with no choice but to leave.

"I don't apologize for refusing to renew my contract when I didn't have to, and I don't feel like I need to apologize," Riley said. ”

While Miami may still have a grudge, Riley didn't show any signs in his speech. "It's all gone," Riley said, "and I wish him all the best, and I hope he will send us his best wishes from the bottom of my heart." ”

This season, the Heat, who are 10th in the East, entered the playoffs as the eighth seed through the play-offs, but were swept by the Cavaliers, losing the final two games by a huge margin of 37 and 55 points, respectively.

Riley doesn't expect the Heat to stick with a nearly identical roster next season, meaning the team will aggressively pursue a trade this summer. According to Riley, the team made at least 14 roster changes in his 29 offseasons at the helm of the Heat. "We do need to make changes," he said, "and change is imperative." ”

Riley turned 80 in March and is about to enter his 30th year with the Heat. He said that there are no retirement plans in the short term.

"I've just turned 80 and I'm very proud of that. 80 is the new 60," Riley said, "and that's how I see it." I feel good and my desire to win is still strong. ”

He revealed that he has met with the team's majority shareholder, Mitch Arison, and CEO Nick Arison, both of whom are supporting him to move forward. However, change is imminent. It's not because of his age, it's because the Heat have no intention of going through a lengthy rebuilding process and are desperate to get back in contention for a championship as soon as possible.

"It's a process," Riley said, "but neither I nor the owner of the team want to wait a long time. ”