Bucks Zone

Jimmy Butler implores the NBA to investigate the Milwaukee Bucks for "tampering"

Does Jimmy Butler’s claims have any merit to them? Or is he just bitter that the Miami Heat lost out on the Dame Lillard sweepstakes?

Jonas Panerio

© Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

While most people in Milwaukee celebrate the trade for seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard, some people in Miami are suspicious. Amidst the explosive transaction that sent “Dame Time” to the Bucks to team up with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler made waves by calling for the league to investigate the Bucks for “tampering” – a violation of the NBA's rules regarding player recruitment and contract negotiation.

Serious allegations

Butler made the allegations in a video posted on Instagram.

“Yo NBA, man, y'all need to look into the Bucks for tampering. Y'all do. I'm just going to put that out there. Y'all didn't hear it from me, but I heard it from somebody,” Butler said.

It remains to be seen whether Butler’s allegations have any legs since he neither provided proof nor named a source. It could be that the former Marquette standout is just feeling salty after his team failed to take advantage of the fact that Lillard had wanted to be traded to Miami. However, it appears that the Heat just did not have a sufficient trade package to make a deal happen.

History of tampering

To be fair, the Bucks were stripped of a 2022 second-round pick when the NBA investigated the team’s early contact with then-free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic in 2020.

In 1995, the Miami Heat also faced accusations of tampering with the New York Knicks by enticing Pat Riley to join their team while he was still under contract with the Knicks. However, the Heat and Knicks resolved the matter when the Heat gave up a first-round pick and $1 million to the Knicks in exchange for the services of Riley.

Published
Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO