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NY Post
New York Post
27 Sep 2023


NextImg:Jimmy Butler makes tampering claim after Bucks-Damian Lillard trade

Jimmy Butler is calling foul.

The Heat scorer is seemingly not happy after watching the Trail Blazers send star Damian Lillard to the Bucks as part of a three-team blockbuster on Wednesday — despite Lillard’s long-standing attempts to maneuver his way to Miami.

“Yo NBA,” he said in a video posted to his Instagram Story. “Y’all need to look into the Bucks for tampering. Y’all do. Just gonna put that out there. Ya’ll Didn’t hear it from me, bit I hear it through somebody. Y’all look at them for tampering.”

Butler didn’t share an evidence to back up the claim, which came minutes after NBA insiders reported on the deal.

“What he said,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said in response to Butler’s tweet.

In the move, the Suns acquire Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, Grayson Allen and the Trail Blazer recoup Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, the Bucks’ 2029 first-round pick the right to swap picks in 2028 and 2030.

The trade shocker ends a months-long saga that saw Lillard request a trade in July after Portland failed to make the playoffs for a second straight year before drafting point guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 pick overall.

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics.
Jimmy Butler didn’t seem too pleased to see Damian Lillard end up with the Bucks.
Getty Images

Later that month, Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, went public about only wanting to play in Miami — causing the NBA to threaten them with discipline if the 33-year-old suggested he wouldn’t fulfill his contractual obligation if dealt elsewhere.

Lillard is coming off a 2022-23 season in which posted a career-best 32.2 points per game and tied his personal high .463 field goal percentage — a performance that earned him All-NBA Third Team honors.

Now, instead of teaming up with Butler and his Heat mates — who went on a stunning run to the NBA Finals last season as an eight-seed — Lillard will instead join forces with two-NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.

Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard passes the ball against the Washington Wizards .
Lillard had previously claimed he only wanted to pay in Miami.
AP

The pairing immediately vaults the Bucks atop the Eastern Conference contenders — and throws up a massive roadblock to Butler’s title hopes in Miami.