Heat's Pat Riley is unhappy with Jimmy Butler's comments about the Celtics and Knicks, which means he needs to play more

Miami Heat president Pat Riley held his season-ending press conference on Monday after the team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs last week.

After finishing as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and losing a first-round series to the Boston Celtics in five games, Riley told reporters that he expected head coach Erik Spolestra to “dive deep on offense and defense.” Payroll is also a big concern, as the Heat are currently $10 million over the luxury tax threshold.

However, Riley raised the temperature in the room significantly as he went straight and indirect addressed Jimmy Butler's role on the team.

servant caused a stir at the weekend with comments that the Celtics “would be home” if he were available for the series. (Butler injured his knee during a play-in tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.) And if he had played with the Sixers instead of the Heat, they wouldn't have lost to the New York Knicks in the first round:

Riley had no patience for Butler's comments when asked about them.

But this stern rebuke may not have been based solely on Butler's comments. During the press conference, Riley referenced the “availability” of Heat players.

Butler, who turns 35 in September, played 60 games for Miami this season. During his five seasons with the Heat, he averaged 58 games. With rumors that Butler wants a contract extension, Riley seemed to send a message that his star needs to play more. And if he can't play anymore, he shouldn't talk about what might have happened.

The 13-year veteran was signed through the 2024-25 season and has a $52 million player option for 2025-26. According to the Miami Herald, Butler is reportedly seeking a two-year, maximum $113 million contract extension. The Heat have until June 30, 2025 to decide whether or not to make an offer.

But when Riley was asked if trading Butler was a possibility, he simply said, “No.” So this could lead to a standoff between Butler, who wants a contract extension, and the Heat, who would rather wait at least a year and see if changes are made.

Butler's agent Bernie Lee denied that Riley raised the issue of availability with South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter Ira Winderman.

The situation could become clearer over the summer or in the lead-up to training camp if Butler pushes for a contract extension before the start of the 2024-25 season and becomes dissatisfied if the Heat are not open to a new deal.