Part 2/7:
Butler has been vocal about his discontent during a pivotal meeting with Riley. He made it crystal clear that he has no plans to sign a new contract with the Heat. Instead, Butler is opting to pick up his hefty $52 million player option for the next season—not out of loyalty—but as a strategic maneuver to facilitate a trade. This aggressive posturing illustrates a shift in the balance of power within the team, one that has certainly caught Riley's attention.