MIAMI — Jimmy Butler is anticipated to return to the Miami Heat lineup on Friday as they face off against the Denver Nuggets. This will mark his first game back since the team acknowledged his desire for a trade and their ongoing efforts to meet those demands.
The Heat recently suspended Butler for the last seven games, citing conduct considered detrimental to the team. During his absence, the team managed to achieve only three wins against four losses.
Initially, it was uncertain whether Butler would don a Heat jersey again. However, with no trade currently in sight, the Heat have not included him on the injury report for the upcoming game. This suggests that the organization is expecting him to participate.
Butler missed the team’s recent six-game road trip, which included stops in Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, and Los Angeles to face both the Clippers and Lakers. On Thursday, the Heat did not hold a practice session, opting instead for a walk-through ahead of their game against Denver.
During this time, Butler was scheduled to meet with team officials on Thursday and Friday, presumably including discussions with head coach Erik Spoelstra. Butler expressed his discontent after a recent loss to the Indiana Pacers, citing a loss of joy in playing basketball and frustration with his role within the team.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler shared. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
The dynamic between Butler and the Heat has dramatically deteriorated, gaining significant attention in recent weeks. In a January 2nd game against the Pacers, the Heat suffered a 128-115 loss with Butler contributing just nine points and sitting out the entire fourth quarter for the second consecutive match.
The day following the loss brought about Butler’s suspension, which contradicted previous statements from team president Pat Riley asserting that Butler would remain with the team. Since then, the organization has been involved in discussions around a possible trade.
However, trading Butler is a challenging task due to new provisions in the collective bargaining agreement that complicate negotiations for teams acquiring significant contracts. Butler is earning nearly $49 million this season, with an option worth $52 million for the next.
At 35 years old, Butler is averaging 17.6 points per game, marking his lowest average since his third season in the league over a decade ago. Conversely, he is also enjoying a career-high shooting percentage of 55% this year.
Butler previously emerged as the standout performer for two Heat squads that advanced to the NBA Finals. He was eligible for a substantial two-year, $113 million contract extension last summer, but the relationship soured when the Heat chose not to present that offer to him.
