Part 6/8:
Much speculation revolved around how Shams obtained his information. The possibilities of his source being the Heat’s front office, Butler himself, or even agents have been discussed. The inherent nature of NBA teams is to keep information close to the vest, akin to the Spurs' reputation. Conversely, a collaboration between Shams and Lee regarding the report seems unlikely due to their fraught relationship.
However, various teams interested in acquiring Butler could very well be involved. The idea is that rival teams might be pushing rumors of Butler's availability to agitate negotiations, thereby increasing the likelihood of a trade occurring.