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The Jimmy Butler drama with the Miami Heat was something to behold. Building up for seemingly a long time, it all finally came to head in the months leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. Butler was suspended by the Heat on several occasions for "conduct detrimental to the team". What started as a question about Butler's health turned into a question of how much the Heat would stand for his behavior.
It lasted longer than either side would have hoped, but Butler was finally traded to the Golden State Warriors in early February. When Butler was traded, the Heat were in a decent position in the Eastern Conference. They had a 25-24 record and competed hard even without Butler in the lineup. But since they shipped him off, their season has come crumbling down. That was no more apparent than in their latest loss, a 125-91 shellacking at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
Miami Heat now 4-14 since Jimmy Butler trade, Warriors 14-1 with him
Since Butler left the team, the Heat have gone 4-14 and lost seven in a row. Meanwhile, the Warriors are 14-1 with Butler whenever he plays.
That success for the Warriors with Butler is obviously not sustainable, but the Heat's incompetence without him might be. Miami needed another scoring star to pair with Butler before the season even began. They didn't get that, which in part is why Butler left.
Surprisingly, the Heat are still in a play-in spot as things stand. That's how bad the Eastern Conference is this year. The Warriors have climbed up to 6th place in a stacked Western Conference.