Draymond Green takes swipe at Heat over Jimmy Butler

Since no one, Internet experts or otherwise, would actually argue in good faith that Highsmith, a 5.4-ppg scorer for his career, deserved to start over Butler, a six-time NBA All-Star, when they were still teammates in Miami, Green’s remark reads as a bit more of a swipe at the Heat. It is true that Miami once wanted Highsmith to start over Butler. But there is some important context there that Green was missing (or chose to overlook).

Before the Heat ultimately traded Butler to the Warriors last February, Butler was causing big problems for Miami in an attempt to force a trade, and he was suspended by the team multiple times for detrimental conduct as a result. After one such suspension, Butler reportedly walked out of shootaround after being informed that the Heat planned to start Highsmith over him for Butler’s first game back (read the details here). That lone game is the only context where Butler coming off the bench behind Highsmith ever came up.

So while Green’s remarks there were somewhat intellectually dishonest, we at least know that he has his teammate Butler’s back. This not even the first time that Green has stood up for Butler without doing proper research first.