Jimmy Butler has been suspended by the Miami Heat for the second time in just three weeks, raising concerns about whether he has already played his final game with the team.
Butler’s most recent suspension, which spans two games, was issued due to what the franchise described as a “continued pattern of disregard for team rules, insubordinate behavior, and actions harmful to the team.” A key reason noted was Butler’s absence from the team’s flight to Milwaukee on the day prior to their upcoming game against the Bucks on Thursday, followed by a game against Brooklyn on Saturday.
If Butler remains on the roster, he could potentially play again on Monday at home against Orlando. However, his future with the team seems uncertain.
In recent weeks, Butler has informed the Heat of his desire to be traded, though he has not made this demand public due to NBA regulations prohibiting players from broadcasting such desires, a violation that could result in a hefty fine of up to $150,000. The Heat acknowledged his trade request during an earlier suspension in January, mentioning they would look into accommodating his wish before the league’s trade deadline on February 6.
Earlier this month, Butler faced a seven-game suspension that resulted in a loss of about $2.4 million in salary. He just made his return to the court last week and has since participated in three games, averaging 13.0 points in 29.3 minutes per game.
The Heat departed for Milwaukee at around 2:15 PM on Wednesday, an earlier time than usual for travel, though it remains unclear if this early departure played a role in Butler missing the flight. Notably, the dates for the Heat’s road games coincide with a padel tournament in Miami, where Butler is listed as an honorary chairman and co-captain. Despite his connection to this event and his coffee brand, Big Face, it remains unknown whether he intended to attend and if that impacted his attendance on the flight.
The tension between Butler and the Heat has been building for weeks, if not months, primarily due to financial disagreements. Butler becomes eligible for a two-year, $113 million contract extension, but the Heat has opted not to offer it, largely because he has missed approximately 25% of the games since joining the team in 2019.
Additional issues are also at play; Butler has expressed dissatisfaction with what he regards as a shift in his role within the team’s offensive structure. During recent games, he has noticeably refrained from his usual display of enthusiasm during player introductions and has even sat apart from teammates during timeouts, not participating in team huddles.
“There was a lot said by everybody, except for me, to tell you the truth,” Butler remarked after his return from suspension. “We’ll let people keep talking. … The whole truth will come out.”
This latest development follows an event where the Phoenix Suns arranged a trade with the Utah Jazz that netted them three first-round picks. These draft picks are expected to be pivotal in a potential trade for Butler. However, such a transaction would likely be intricate, requiring involvement from multiple teams to facilitate the necessary arrangements.
The speculation surrounding Butler’s potential trade has persisted for weeks, with his hair color during December matches curiously coinciding with the colors of four teams mentioned as possible trade partners: Phoenix, Dallas, Golden State, and Houston. His footwear choices have also echoed this speculation; for instance, he donned shoes featuring orange hues, aligning perfectly with the Suns’ color scheme for a game against Portland.
