Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, is publicly firing back and defending his client once again.

The Heat suspended Butler earlier this week after he missed a team flight. Former NBA champion Channing Frye claimed on the Road Trippin’ podcast that sources told him the Heat spent “a couple of hours” on the tarmac waiting on Butler. 

“This time, Jimmy held up the whole plane because he didn’t want to communicate,” Frye said on the Road Trippin’ podcast. 

Lee disputed Frye’s claims in an X (formerly Twitter) post Saturday morning.

“This is just stupid and not that it needs to be said but 1000 pct did not happen,” Lee wrote.

Lee also fired a shot at Heat legend Tim Hardaway Sr. The elder Hardaway publicly sided with Heat president Pat Riley in the Butler saga earlier this month.

“Who lifted the all of us agreed upon Tim Hardaway radio embargo and how did I miss that memo?” Lee asked.

Neither Frye nor Hardaway had responded as of publication.

Lee previously battled ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania last month. The veteran agent questioned Charania’s credibility and integrity after a report Butler preferred a trade.

Butler subsequently requested a trade Jan. 2.

ROZIER MAKING HISTORY

Heat guard Terry Rozier has spent the new year making NBA history.

Too bad it’s the worst kind of history.

The struggling Rozier has made 13 of his last 80 three-point tries, an ugly 16.2 percent from long-range. The popular @HeatCulture13 X (formerly Twitter) account shared that’s the worst three-point shooting stretch (with at least 80 attempts) over a 14-game span in NBA history.

That’s certainly a specific fact. However, it raises two key questions:

1. Why does Rozier keep taking three-point shots if he’s not hitting them?

2. How much longer will the Heat continue running Rozier out there?

Rozier already lost his starting role, and he’s had mixed success as a sixth man. Although his 10.8 field-goal attempts are his lowest since 2019, he’s only hitting 40.1 percent of his shots. 

Rozier’s 28.9 three-point shooting percentage is his lowest in nearly a decade. 

A lack of depth and the ongoing Butler trade saga means the Heat can’t afford to bench Rozier. He’s averaging 27.8 minutes in 12 games and eight starts this month.

Miami needs Rozier to find his shooting stroke if the 21-22 Heat intend on making the playoffs. Miami has lost five of six entering Saturday’s road clash with the lowly Nets. 

ROZIER DISCUSSES INCONSISTENT SEASON

Rozier opened the season in familiar territory: the starting rotation.

However, Miami moved Rozier to the bench in late November, his first time regularly playing with the second unit since leaving the Celtics in 2019. Although he returned to the starting rotation earlier this month, Rozier has come off the bench in three of the Heat’s last four games. 

Nothing is really changing. Rozier’s 11.8 points and 40.1 shooting percentage are easily his lowest since 2019. The same goes for his 18 bench appearances. 

Why does Rozier think he’s struggling?

“I don’t have no reason for it because I feel like I’m complaining,” Rozier told HoopsHype. 

“I do feel like this game is beautiful, and I think that whatever it is,” Rozier continued, “I struggle just so when things open back up, it’ll make the struggle way more beautiful, and I can appreciate it way more because I know things are gonna turn.”

HoopsHype asked Rozier if he feels he plays “more freely” coming off the bench. 

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s who I’m out there with. So, we don’t know.”

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Jake Elman works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at jakeelman97@gmail.com or follow him on X @JakeElman97.