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CHICAGO, IL - MAY 18:  Miami Heat president Pat Riley attends Day Two of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 18, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 18: Miami Heat president Pat Riley attends Day Two of the NBA Draft Combine at Quest MultiSport Complex on May 18, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Report: Pat Riley Called Tom Thibodeau 'Motherf--ker' in Jimmy Butler Trade Talk

Tyler ConwayOct 11, 2018

Two places the word "motherf--ker" has been uttered recently: the White House and trade talks between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat.

ESPN'sย Jorge Sedanoย shared a story of how the Heat's near-trade for Jimmy Butler fell apart, with Pat Riley dropping the big MF on Tom Thibodeau (transcript via Deadspin):ย 

"Thereโ€™s been a couple of different incarnations of this deal. The first one, the Heat didnโ€™t want to take back Gorgui Dieng. Then, the next incarnation of the deal was โ€˜OK forget it, letโ€™s just do it straight up, just for Jimmy on your end.โ€™ They finally relented on Josh Richardson, they were giving them Josh Richardson, then Dion Waiters was going to be the cap filler, and then a protected first-round pick. The medicals were exchanged, which generally in the NBA means this is a done deal. And then, Thibs called back and wanted more picks. And Pat Riley literallyโ€”I was toldโ€”called him a motherbleeper and hung up the phone."

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The Heat and Timberwolves have been negotiating for weeks following Butler's trade request. Miami is considered the only serious suitor at this time, but it appears talks have gone dormant as the regular season draws closer.

If you follow the story Sedano weaves, it's not hard to see why Riley grew frustrated. The Heat seem to have relented on nearly every demand the Wolves hadโ€”aside from taking on Gorgui Diengโ€”only for Thibodeau to demand more.

Thibodeau has all of the reason to want to hang onto Butler. It's clear his power within the organization is in a tenuous spot. Owner Glen Taylor has put a mandate on the organization to trade Butler, though it appears Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden have been taking their time in the process.

Butler infamously returned to practice Wednesday, insulting his teammates and then going on ESPN to discuss his displeasure in Minnesota.

So odds are Riley isn't the only one who is a little frustrated with the way things are going.ย 

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