Part 4/8:
At the core of this friction lies financial considerations. Last offseason, Butler was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension, but he opted not to sign it. As the Heat build around younger players like Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, extending Butler, especially given his recent injury history and age, no longer seems viable. Butler had a choice: he could either focus on proving himself this season or attempt to orchestrate a trade, ultimately opting for the latter.