Jimmy Butler’s situation isn’t improving much in Miami.
The Miami Heat announced Friday that they had suspended the six-time All-Star for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team” during the season, a day after he was suspended. a surreal press conference in which he made it clear he wanted to be traded. While taking action against Butler’s conduct, they also added that they would listen to trade offers for him.
We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for several instances of conduct detrimental to the team throughout the season and particularly in recent weeks.
Through his actions and statements, he showed that he no longer wanted to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his rep have indicated they are interested in being traded, so we will listen to offers
The day before, Butler made his intention to leave Miami very clear during a post-game press conference. After scoring just nine points in his second game back after a five-game absence due to what’s being called an illness, Butler blasted his current role on the team and didn’t hesitate when asked asked what he wanted to happen:
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see myself get the joy of playing basketball back and wherever that happens, we’ll know pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here outside on the court, but I want to become somewhat dominant again, I want to play hoops and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.
When asked if he thought he could find that joy again in Miami, he responded with just two words: “Probably not.”
Jimmy Butler and the Heat have been going their separate ways for a while
The suspension comes after not only days, but months of tension between Butler and Heat management, including team president Pat Riley.
The first major crack appeared after the Heat were eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics. Butler missed the entire series with a knee injury, then suggested the team would have won the series with him.
In response, Riley publicly told Butler to “keep your mouth shutThis was also after Riley announced that the team would not extend Butler’s contract beyond this season.
More recently, there has been a report at Christmas that Butler would prefer a trade from the Heat before the February deadlinealthough he has not made a formal request. Riley firmly rejected the idea, clearly stating: “We’re not trading Jimmy Butler” in a statement. Butler didn’t seem to agree, as he basically shrugged his shoulders when asked if he wanted to stay with the Heat for the rest of the season. And then, two days later, he was telling the entire basketball world that he had no joy in the game and didn’t think it could be fixed in Miami.
This is far from Butler’s first messy breakup with a team, and it’s hard to see any team expressing interest in signing a player with his two-way talent. The NBA trade deadline is scheduled for February 6.
