Once again, the Miami Heat will suspend Jimmy Butler.
The Heat will suspend Butler for an upcoming two-game road trip after missing a team flight to Milwaukee, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by multiple sources. The team canceling practice and flying early to Wisconsin may have had something to do with it, but Butler planned to fly alone and meet with the team then play Thursday night. reports Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. Whatever the reason, the Heat organization will be happy to have the distraction that is Butler away from the locker room.
Butler was recently suspended for seven games by the team for “conduct detrimental to the team.” As with this suspension, the players union will likely appeal this one and get Butler some or all of his money back, but it’s a slow process, so he will be away from the team for a few games.
Butler has played in three games since returning from that first suspension, averaging 13 points and 5.7 assists per game.
The momentum is heading toward a Butler trade, most likely to his preferred destination of Phoenix, where he could team up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The challenge with this trade is that Phoenix has to ship Bradley Beal, and Beal has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal. Miami isn’t interested in the 31-year-old former All-Star being owed $110 million over the next two years. That means at least a third team (and maybe a fourth and a fifth) must be brought in to take on Beal and sort everything out — and Beal must approve everything. One of those teams could turn out to be Milwaukee, who were reportedly interested, but Beal’s agent rejected the idea that he would automatically waive the no-trade clause to Milwaukee (or Denver, or the Lakers ). Plus, with the Suns and Bucks on the second tax apron — which comes with a host of trade restrictions — it becomes a complicated trade to make work.
Still, things appear to be heading toward some sort of deal with Butler.
Miami will try to reduce the drama around all of this by suspending Butler. Again.
