The Jimmy Butler trade is now a Juwan-like mess

There’s this perception that things comes easy for the Miami Heat, because of the historic coup of 2010.

That’s not really true, though.

Alonzo Mourning’s kidney disease, right as Pat Riley had given him an enhanced supporting cast.

Chris Bosh’s blood clots, on the very day Riley traded for Goran Dragic for pick-and-pop perfection.

And, of course, way back when, the time Riley said he had to go to a proctologist to get the 10-foot pole taken out of his rear, when David Stern took Juwan Howard away because of a salary cap technicality. The Heat did rebound well by scooping up Dan Majerle, and making some contending runs.

So here we are once more.

We thought Jimmy Butler was being sign-and-traded to the Heat, and he still might be, but there’s now a major snap. The Dallas Mavericks, the third team in the deal, weren’t on the same page as Miami. And reporters in Dallas say, because of it, the Mavericks’ current critical role in executing the overall deal is over.

At first, it appeared Goran Dragic was going to Dallas, though Dragic’s agent had not been informed.

The Mavericks have traded for Miami's Goran Dragic, multiple sources confirm. Dragic is the only other Slovenian in the league, and was roommates with Luka Doncic during Slovenia's 2017 EuroBasket run.

— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) July 1, 2019

But then…

completing this for the record: the deal is off. at some point, there was a misunderstanding with the parameters. miami was certain it was dragic. dallas had been saying olynyk/jones all week. up to miami to salvage it, probably with another team.

— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) July 1, 2019

And so…

i've also been told the deal is believed to be dead https://t.co/wTaRGKyuBS

— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) July 1, 2019

completing this for the record: the deal is off. at some point, there was a misunderstanding with the parameters. miami was certain it was dragic. dallas had been saying olynyk/jones all week. up to miami to salvage it, probably with another team.

— Tim Cato (@tim_cato) July 1, 2019

This from the resident cap expert who focuses on the Heat:

For Heat to acquire Jimmy Butler at his $32.7M max, they are $1.7M short on the trade match. That could mean not only Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones, but also TWO of Duncan Robinson, Yante Maten and Kendrick Nunn. Unless Butler takes less than his max 😀.

— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) July 1, 2019

More from other reporters, including the national guy who is most connected in Dallas:

The Mavericks maintain they agreed to join the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade under the belief they were getting Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones Jr., league sources say. The Heat reportedly do not want to surrender Jones and say they must trade Goran Dragic to make the cap math work

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2019

Miami and Philadelphia are determined to find a new third team to facilitate their Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade and ensure its completion, league sources say, after the apparent collapse of the teams' talks with Dallas

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2019

But this is already so far down the road…

From Josh Richardson's Instagram: pic.twitter.com/raGRWFAb5R

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 1, 2019

At this point, how far can Heat go to salvage, with limited assets, especially in terms of draft picks as sweeteners? https://t.co/dtcwh18v95

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 1, 2019

We will continue to update.

But the Heat appear to be stuck. They simply cannot allow the trade to be called off. Too much damage will be done to the fan base, but also to the players.

How do you bring your guys back now?

What do you tell Miami?

We, um, messed up?