“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon.” Ever since Jimmy Butler made this confession, things have quickly gone South for him! This statement led to his suspension for 7 games with his next destination still not finalized. Many have pointed out it’s a losing battle for the 6x All-Star, as Pat Riley doesn’t really budge during this situation. Phoenix has been a strong contender for some time now, but Carmelo Anthony has another destination in mind.

“I’m sending Jimmy to the Lakers’ best-fit Lakers. You got a veteran team, you got veteran guys on your team. Bron knows how to fu– with you he know what you gonna bring to the team. They need defense, you could bring that, you bring toughness and you can go get it.”

On his latest podcast episode, Melo laid it all out for Butler to find his next team. “Bron don’t want to have to keep going and get it all. Like AD is going out there doing what he’s doing. You put Jimmy alongside!”

Co-host Monica McNutt pointed out the supposed destination of Phoenix. Carmelo Anthony did not have any problem with it either, “Because they lacking what he brings. I like Phoenix too.”

ESPN’s Perkins also stated that the Suns could be the ideal spot for the 35-year-old. “It’s about two things. Okay. It’s about money. From my sources, they’re telling me the Suns have a two-year, $121 million extension waiting on Jimmy.” The other thing he pointed out was the relationship between Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler. And if the latter signs, both are going to sign contract extensions.

But will it be smooth enough for Jimmy Buckets to get his wish? The 10x All-Star doesn’t think so.

Carmelo Anthony doesn’t think Butler gets the destination of his choice

The list of players who were icons for the franchise but traded is long. It has names like Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Alonzo Mourning. Even Wade did not like the way he was treated, and multiple former players have opined that. So another Marquette alum is trending in that direction, without much success as of now.

One of the close friends of D-Wade is Carmelo Anthony, and he bluntly claims that the Heat President will not back down from his stance. “But Pat ain’t going to send you the way you want to go. (He) going send you the NBL in Australia, you understand going be like don’t fu– around with Pat. Like this is just a battle that we don’t win as a player.”

Jimmy Butler has not played in any of the Miami Heat‘s past three games, sidelined since the team’s January 2 loss against the Indiana Pacers. But team sources have revealed that he might rejoin them post-suspension. Who wins in this situation? Pat Riley and his stance of not trading? Or Jimmy Buckets will find his joy elsewhere?