The Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler seven games on Friday (Saturday, January 4, Manila time) for conduct detrimental to the team on multiple occasions and will listen to trade offers for the six-time All-Star.
The suspension comes one day after Butler essentially requested a trade out of Miami after saying he “probably” would never be content playing for the Heat again.
In a statement released Friday, the Heat suggested that Butler’s conduct has become an issue “over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the Heat said in their statement. “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
The willingness to explore a deal comes just over a week after team president Pat Riley said he had no interest in making a move.
“We are not trading Jimmy Butler,” Riley said at the time.
Butler upped the ante in an interview with reporters following Thursday’s 128-115 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.
“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler told reporters Thursday after he scored nine points in 27 minutes on 3-of-6 shooting.
“I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”
ESPN reported that Butler asked for a trade after team officials implied he hadn’t given an all-out effort on Wednesday in a 119-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans — his first game since Dec. 20 due to an illness. He also scored nine points in that game over 25 minutes.
In his sixth season with the Heat, Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 games.
The Heat are Butler’s fourth team, following stays with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers. He was the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals in 2022-23 when the Heat beat the Boston Celtics in seven games.
In 836 career games (731 starts), Butler has averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. – Rappler.com
