Draymond Green during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 (Image via Getty Images) Draymond Green has never hesitated to point out what he views as hypocrisy or misguided opinions. He took his shots at the crowd of online critics and ‘internet experts’ who doubted Jimmy Butler’s value during a tough time with the Miami Heat. Green’s sharp remarks came right after the Heat traded forward Haywood Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets, a move that followed Butler’s significant transfer to Golden State earlier this year.
Jimmy Butler finds strong support from Draymond Green
On August 16, 2025, only days before Draymond Green’s comments, the Miami Heat traded Highsmith along with a second-round pick in 2032 to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected second-round pick in 2026. ESPN reported this deal, and it was later confirmed by the Heat’s official announcement, which indicated that the trade was primarily financial.With the move of Haywood Highsmith’s contract, Miami Heat fell back under the luxury-tax threshold, which offered them crucial cap relief as they dealt with a difficult offseason. Highsmith, for his part, was ready to join a Nets team that was rebuilding, where he could possibly get more minutes and continue to develop.It was this deal that pushed Draymond Green to go on a verbal rampage against the critics. Draymond Green is a passionate advocate for his new teammate Butler and had hopped onto Threads to throw some serious shade.In a post that quickly went viral, Green wrote: “Y’all (internet experts) wanted Jimmy to come off the bench behind dude, and 5 months later The Heat traded him for a bag of chips. That’s wild.”
Jimmy Butler publicly admitted he cannot find joy playing basketball in Miami after a tough loss
Miami Heat Jimmy Butler is a six-time All-Star that is a leading force in the team because of his tireless approach to play and leadership style since joining the fragrant team in 2019. But tensions were on the increase in the season of 2024-25. Jimmy Butler was not quite satisfied with his position in Miami Heat, and he shared his desire to reunite with his happiness in basketball publicly.In a post-game interview after a loss, he told reporters, “I want to find my joy playing basketball, and probably won’t be able to do so in Miami,” as reported by multiple outlets including ESPN. This candid admission led to an immediate suspension from the Miami Heat organization.The drama ramped up when Jimmy Butler returned from his initial suspension. During a team practice, the Heat coaches told him they were planning to start Haywood Highsmith, a capable but lesser-known forward, over him going forward. They thought this would shake things up and possibly inspire Butler, but it ended up backfiring big time.Also Read: How Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry went from teenagers in church to a family of sixWhile the Miami Heat keep pushing forward without Jimmy Butler or Haywood Highsmith, the Warriors are enjoying their new chemistry. One thing is for sure: In the NBA, what seems like a solid bench choice today can turn into a joke tomorrow.