Miami Heat president Pat Riley was a recent guest on the LeBatard Show with Dan LeBatard. As to be expected, the Jimmy Butler situation was a major topic of discussion. When asked if he would have handled things different, had he known how it would go with Butler, Riley expressed regret in his part of the situation.
"I would have handled it differently. There's no doubt," Riley said.
In the offseason, Riley was critical of Butler and his tendency to miss game. Riley also said Butler had no room to comment on the Heat's first-round playoff loss to Boston because the veteran wing didn't play in the series.
At that same time, Riley said Butler had to find a way to play in more games. While speaking with LeBatard, Riley reiterated that players owe teams something while under contract.
"There’s a difference, be who you want to be, but in one of the great biblical terms, render onto Caesar you know what is his," Riley explained. "As players, they have to render unto the Heat really what is theirs too, and while they go out there and they do all these other things, you can’t short cut it with us. I’ve actually explained this to the players is that while you’re under contract with us, you do owe us something. Your collective bargaining agreement contract says that. So, don’t ever take that lightly and we have a very cooperative group of people."
