ESPN Insider Shams Charania Hits Back After Agent of Miami Heat Star Jimmy Butler Accuses Him of Making Up Story
Top insider Shams Charania stood firm on his reporting of NBA trade talks after the agent of Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler called him out.
Charania on Tuesday reported that Bernie Lee — Butler’s agent — has “indicated in league circles” that Butler is open to being traded to the Phoenix Suns. That reporting came as speculation mounted that Butler would soon demand a trade from the Heat.
In a pair of tweets, Lee called the report “made up bullshit” and “fabricated.
On Thursday, Charania addressed Lee’s comments on First Take with Stephen A. Smith.
“I 1,000% stand by my reporting,” Charania said. “It’s fully vetted; and, as a professional, that’s what I do. That’s what I get paid to do. That’s what I’m going to do — report truthfully and accurately. That’s what this is, period.”
Asked to elaborate further, Charania added:
So, Tuesday, I reported that the Miami Heat have begun listening to trade offers for Jimmy Butler, and Butler prefers a win-now destination; and three of the teams on Tuesday — that I reported that his agent has indicated in league circles that he is open to — [are] the Mavericks, the Rockets — two of the Texas teams — as well as the Golden State Warriors. Yesterday, I added that there was another team also in that list — the Phoenix Suns — and that was the reporting. And so, I 1,000% stand by it. It is 1,000% facts.
Watch above via ESPN.
