What distinguishes something as fond of something from just liking it?

Consult Jimmy Butler.

Butler is “fond” of the Brooklyn Nets and amenable to the organization, sources informed Brian Lewis of the New York Post in a recent article. Butler “likes” the Nets, according to a report from Lewis earlier this month.

We will therefore have two reports in the coming days on Butler’s possible interest in the Nets. And Butler’s opinion of Brooklyn as a potential destination changed from “liking” it to “fond” of it in a matter of days.

Butler can choose to forego his $52.4 million player option for the 2025–2026 campaign in order to become a free agent and sign a longer-term contract in Miami or another location the following summer.

The Heat have not yet indicated that they would be willing to deal Butler.

Pat Riley openly criticized Butler in the spring and refused to talk about a long-term deal until he received guarantees that Butler would be more available during the regular season. Butler and the Heat might split up the following summer if that doesn’t happen.

Is this Butler publicly making out with the Nets based on rumors?

The Philadelphia 76ers had expressed interest in signing Butler to a maximum deal extension not so long ago. That was prior to them using their cap space on Paul George, which eliminated Butler’s only plausible club.

Butler subsequently made the decision to finish this season without asking the Heat to extend his contract. However, Butler will have to attract a different team’s attention in order to secure the deal he desires come summertime. That might be the Nets.

It goes without saying that Butler loves New York and would jump at the chance to perform there. He makes frequent trips there and works on social media for the Van Leeuwen ice cream chain, which is based in New York.

Next summer, the Nets should have at least $80 million in cap room. They may be searching for a new franchise leader after dealing Mikal Bridges and regaining a number of their future draft picks.

Although the Nets are determined to fail this season, they may be able to rapidly turn things around and contend for an East playoff spot next summer if they receive a high lottery pick and the maximum amount of cap room.

Is Butler going to stay in New York instead of Miami if he gets a max contract? It can’t be ruled out if he is indeed so “fond” of Brooklyn.

Miami Heat expands its training camp roster by two players.

A well-known figure has joined the Miami Heat’s training camp roster.

The Heat have signed center Malik Williams to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is essentially an invitation to training camp, according to Hoopshype NBA insider Michael Scotto.

The Miami Heat have agreed to a deal with Malik Williams, league sources told @hoopshype. Williams spent last season with the Toronto Raptors after being called up from Sioux Falls in the G League. pic.twitter.com/7NAuX0ePZc

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 11, 2024

Before training camp in the Bahamas, the Heat signed 26-year-old Williams to an Exhibit 10 deal, joining guards Isaiah Stevens and Zyon Pullin. On October 1, heat training camp starts.

Williams played in 42 games last season for the Heat’s G-League club in Sioux Falls, averaging 10.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.5 minutes. In all, he shot 42.6%, with 31.1% coming from 2.8 3-pointers made per game.

After that, Williams signed two 10-day contracts with the Toronto Raptors, and he played in seven games during that time.

Williams, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound player, had double-digit rebounds in 14 of the Sioux Falls Skyforce’s games during the previous campaign, including a 21-rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Blue.

Bryson Warren, a guard, was also signed by the Heat to an Exhibit 10 contract.

Warren played in 17 Skyforce regular season games last season, averaging 19.6 minutes, 7.8 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 rebounds. Seven times did he score in double digits, including the game-opening 21 points he scored against the South Bay Lakers in February.

In 22 games with Overtime Elite the previous season, Warren averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.6 steals. Additionally, Warren made appearances in three Summer League games with the Heat: one in Las Vegas and two in San Francisco’s California Classic.

As training camp approaches, the Heat will have a maximum of 21 players on their roster: 14 players on normal contracts, 3 two-way players, and 4 players on Exhibit 10 contracts. Before the regular season begins, the Heat must reduce their roster to 18 players (15 standard contracts and 3 two-way contracts).