There’s a lot to ponder over the current Jimmy Butler situation. Was his exit from the Heat on the cards for a long time? Or did the star forward decide to force out the trade a few days before the controversial press interaction? Well, there isn’t any definitive answer to the question. But at the same time, we have a strong case that raised doubt regarding Jimmy Buckets’ true intentions. And, it has to do with his entry into a $890 million industry.

It was the star’s plunge into the coffee industry. The 6x NBA All-Star seemed to have really understood the Miami land. Not to exaggerate, the people of Vice City do love their coffee and, most importantly, they love their cafes. Even though Butler launched his coffee brand, Big Face, in 2021, the brand’s physical store was opened last month.

There was a lot of effort put into the making of his mega coffee shop set up in Miami’s Design District, covering a 2500 sq.ft. Walking into the coffee shop gives you a futuristic look straight out of Stanley Kubrick’s film. Anyway, let’s leave out the coffee shop for a moment and focus on how it revealed Jimmy Butler’s true intentions.

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you believe Jimmy Butler's coffee venture was a genuine passion project or a strategic move before leaving Miami?

Genuine passion

Strategic move

Both

Neither

Do you think Draymond Green's courtside antics with his wife add to the entertainment or cross the line?

It's all in good fun and adds to the drama

It's disrespectful and unprofessional

Depends on the context and the game

I don't care as long as the game is exciting

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How do you feel about LeBron James' response to Draymond's antics by involving his wife in the game?

Classic LeBron, always rising to the occasion

He should focus on the game, not personal jabs

It's all part of the mind games in sports

LeBron should have ignored it and played on

Do you think LeBron and Savannah James made the right decision by initially transferring Bryce to different schools?

Yes, they were looking out for his best interests

No, they should have trusted Bryce's instincts

Maybe, but it ultimately worked out

Parents should let kids make their own choices

How do you feel about Bryce James' decision to stick with Sierra Canyon despite the challenges?

It shows true loyalty and character

He should have sought better opportunities

It's a risky move that paid off

He was right to follow his heart

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

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The point that we are trying to make is that Jimmy Butler wasn’t thinking of forcing a trade out of the Heat. At least a month ago. Given that the star had invested in a well-curated coffee shop, it’s hard to believe that someone would make such an effort knowing that they would walk away from the city in a month.

Moreover, the coffee business isn’t just another investment for the baller. There are plenty of instances to prove it as well. Most notably, in its origin story, Butler sold $20 cups for his teammates from his hotel room in 2020. It shows the love that Butler had for making coffee.

Did Jimmy Butler really want to stay with the Heat?

Apart from the coffee shop instance, there’s another strong scenario that raised a strong suspicion about whether Butler even wanted a trade in the initial part of the season. So, when the Miami Heat refused to extend the star’s contract in the 2024 offseason, it triggered the trade rumors.

Heading into Media Day, every reporter wanted to fire away the burning question. Pat Riley, the president of the team, had an unusual response to the situation. He said, “That’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night.” Riley’s response seemed more detached from the player, despite his contributions to the franchise.

However, on the other end, Butler made a positive statement, making it clear that he was there to stay. The star said, ” I’ve got to prove that I am a major part of winning, and rightfully so. I’ve done it before. This is no different. … That will take care of itself.” This is another instance where Butler expressed his wish to stay with the franchise. Nevertheless, a few months later, something seemed to have forced Butler to take the recent decision. What do you make of it? Let us know in the comments below.