Jimmy Butler It has been commented before Miami Heat For the second time in three weeks, a move that adds to the possibility that he has already played his final game for the franchise.
Butler drawing last comment – These two matches will continue — for what the team called in a statement Wednesday night “an ongoing pattern of ignoring team rules, rebellious behavior and conduct that is harmful to the team,” including missing the Heat’s trip to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday and Brooklyn on Saturday.
The Butler can play for the Heat again on Monday, at home against Orlando. This would depend on him still being on the list, which seems far from guaranteed.
In Milwaukee on Thursday, as the Heat prepared for a game against the Bucks, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra did not discuss Butler specifically. But when asked how to pivot quickly in the league when change comes, Spoelstra spoke volumes.
“The point I made to our team is you get used to it. Get over it,” Spoelstra said. “This is the NBA life. This is the life we chose. If you think it’s just going to be predictable, you’re really wrong. I think it takes mental fortitude and commitment to just focus on the task at hand. Nothing changes in terms of the task.”
Butler told the Heat in recent weeks He wants a tradea request he did not make publicly because league rules do not allow players to do so. Any player who makes such a request is known to risk a fine of up to $150,000.
But the Heat exposed that request when he was suspended in early January for what they called behavior detrimental to the team, and they said at the time that they would work to accommodate his trade request.
The NBA trade deadline is February 6.
Related to: Best landing spots for disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler
It was Butler Banished for seven matches Earlier this month, it cost him about $2.4 million in salary. Butler returned last week and played in each of Miami’s final three games, averaging 13.0 points in 29.3 minutes.
The Heat left for Milwaukee around 2:15 PM on Wednesday. This departure time is earlier than Miami leaves for most of its flights, and it is not clear if this was a factor for Butler.
The scheduled games dates on this hot road trip coincide with the Padel Tournament in Miami, which lists Butler as honorary president and co-captain. Butler’s coffee company, Big Face, is participating with the event. But it was not known if Butler planned to be at the event in Miami and if that had anything to do with him missing the flight to Milwaukee.
Butler’s expected breakup with the Heat has been brewing for several weeks, if not months. The primary issue that caused the break in the relationship was money; He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension and the Heat never offered such a deal, largely because he has missed about 25% of the team’s games since arriving in 2019.
Related to: Jimmy Butler Team Team Odds: Star Guard prefers to stay in Miami
There were other factors. Butler has made it no secret that he’s unhappy with what he says is his new role in the Heat offense. He has not been involved in his usual manner while inserting Heat starters for the last three games, and has sat alone at times during the huddle while not getting involved in huddling around the bench.
“There was too much for everyone, except me, to tell you the truth,” Butler said after his first game after the suspension. “We’ll let people keep talking… …the whole truth will come out.”
The latest chapter in the Butler-Heat saga comes a day after Phoenix pulled through on a deal with Utah State to acquire three first-round picks that the Suns are expected to use as pieces in another trade — one that would presumably bring them Butler. Such a deal with Butler would be complex for the Suns, likely involving at least three teams and possibly more to make all the pieces fit.
The Butler Trade Watch has been going on for weeks, and he updated his hair color for some December games to match the primary colors of Phoenix, Dallas, Golden State and Houston — the four teams that have been prominently mentioned in potential trade partners for Miami.
And for Tuesday’s matchup against Portland, Butler wore orange studded shoes — perfectly matching the Suns’ color scheme.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to your Fox Sports accountand follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat
National Basketball Association
Get more from NBA Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
