Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for 7 games and will seek to trade him
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was Miami’s best player for five years, the leader of a team that went to the NBA Finals twice in his tenure. He talked big and, at times, played bigger. He spoke with reverence for the city, for the franchise, for the famed “Heat Culture.”
He also missed a lot of games, seemed unhappy at times and then didn’t get a $113 million extension that he was eligible for last summer.
And now, a breakup looms.
One day after Butler said that he doesn’t think he can find on-court joy in Miami going forward, the Heat suspended him for seven games and said they will listen to trade offers — a clear sign that they do not expect him to wear their uniform again.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the team said in a statement Friday night. “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.”
Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, about $2,355,798 in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.
Butler will not be with the team for its home game Saturday against Utah and then the totality of a six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In theory, the earliest that Butler could play again for the Heat is Jan. 17 at home against Denver. But he has likely played for Miami for the final time.
“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers,” the Heat said.
Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The team saying it’s open to moving the six-time All-Star is a sharp turnaround from a week ago, when Heat President Pat Riley said that the team would not trade Butler.
That was then. Now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.
The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday night, with Butler scoring exactly nine points and sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. It also happened Wednesday in a win over New Orleans.
“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 said after Thursday’s game. “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.”
He was then asked if he can find that joy in Miami. “Probably not,” Butler said, and with that, his postgame news conference ended.
Most likely, so did his Heat tenure.
“Who moves the needle the most on our team is Jimmy,” Riley said in May, after last season ended. “Jimmy moves the needle the most. He’s an incredible player.”
Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in team history in points, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in just 313 appearances. And in the playoffs, he was exceptional: There have been 18 games of 40 or more points in team postseason history and Butler is responsible for eight of them, including a record 56-point night against Milwaukee in the 2023 playoffs.
The 35-year-old Butler became eligible last summer for an extension. The Heat did not offer one, and Riley expressed reservations about how giving such a deal to any player who misses a big number of games.
Butler has missed about one of every four Heat contests since he joined the team. He said at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension decision “take care of itself.”
“I guess I’ve got to go and hoop. ... I’ve got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I’ve done it before. This is no different,” Butler said then.
It didn’t happen.
The bad breakup won’t be the first for the Heat — LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left before eventually returning, Shaquille O’Neal got traded — and won’t be the first for Butler, either.
There are parallels to what’s happening in Miami now and the end of Butler’s time in Minnesota.
In 2018, Butler was months away from potentially becoming a free agent (as is the case now) and was unhappy with the Timberwolves (as is the case now, just with the Heat). He said in an interview with ESPN — after an infamous practice where he shredded teammates with his play and his words — that he wanted to hear the Wolves saying, “We need you. We want you here. We can’t do this without you.”
His words from Tuesday in Miami suggested the same, that he’s not feeling the level of love that he wanted from the Heat. “It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that,” Butler said after a practice session.
Eventually, Butler got his way. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia — and then he got his way again less than a year later, when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.
Both sides were rewarded along the way. Butler has made about $200 million in salary in his 5 1/2 Heat seasons (with another $25 million still coming this season), and the Heat got to enjoy two runs to the NBA Finals.
It worked. Until it didn’t.
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Heat suspend Jimmy Butler; will listen to trade offers
The Miami Heat have suspended star guard Jimmy Butler for seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team."
Butler on Thursday night, after scoring only nine points in a loss to the Indiana Pacers, said he had lost his joy playing in Miami.
"Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team," a statement released by the Heat on Friday night said. "Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday that Butler indicated to the Heat he would like to be traded.
"I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon," Butler said after Thursday's game against the Pacers. "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."
When asked if he can get his joy back on the court with the Heat, Butler responded: "Probably not."
An issue that led to Butler's decision to request a trade, sources told Charania, was an implication from team officials Thursday that he hadn't played his hardest in the Heat's victory Wednesday over the New Orleans Pelicans. Playing his first game in 13 days after being away because of an illness, Butler took only five shots in 25 minutes and scored nine points.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra did not play Butler in the fourth quarter of either game this week.
Butler will not be with the Heat for their home game Saturday against the Utah Jazz and then the totality of a six-game trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The suspension will cost Butler $346,543 for each game missed, or a total of $2.35 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. The National Basketball Players Association will soon file a grievance to dispute the suspension, sources told ESPN, but the grievance process is lengthy and will likely not stop the suspension.
Butler is in the last guaranteed year of his contract; he has a player option worth more than $52 million for next season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jimmy Butler trade request: Heat suspend star forward for seven games, will listen to offers
The Miami Heat have suspended star forward Jimmy Butler for seven games following comments he made on Thursday night suggesting that was no longer interested in being a member of the organization. The comments were followed by a report that Butler officially requested a trade from the Heat.
On Friday, the Heat released a statement announcing Butler's suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."
The statement went on to read: "Through his actions and statements, [Butler] has shown he no longer wants to be part of the team."
And now the important part: "Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."
To summarize, Butler told the Heat he wants out, and though to this point Miami had maintained a lack of desire, or at least urgency, to move him, it appears they will now acquiesce to Butler's demand. After all, he has shown he can make things extremely uncomfortable when he wants out of a situation. He blowtorched his way out of Minnesota, and Thursday night's press conference showed he was/is ready to do the same with the Heat.
Butler was asked a handful of questions ranging from his sudden lack of offensive involvement to whether, point blank, there is any chance of fixing whatever has been broken between him and the Heat. His answers spoke for themselves.
Everyone will now turn their attention to potential Butler suitors and who can make the best offer for Miami.
Heat suspend Jimmy Butler 7 games after contentious news conference, say they will listen to trade offers
The Jimmy Butler situation isn't getting much better in Miami.
The Miami Heat announced Friday they have suspended the six-time All-Star for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" over the course of the season, a day after he held a surreal news conference in which he loudly signaled he wants to be traded. While taking action against Butler's conduct, they also added they will listen to trade offers for him.
Soon after the news broke, ESPN's Shams Charania reported the National Basketball Players Association would file a grievance on Butler's behalf. The process won't stop Butler's suspension, but it could help recoup the millions in salary he's losing due to the unpaid suspension.
The previous day, Butler made his intentions to leave Miami very clear in a postgame news conference. After scoring only nine points in his second game back from a five-game absence due to what was called an illness, Butler lambasted his current role with the team and didn't hold back when asked what he wants to happen:
When asked if he believes he can get that joy back in Miami, he responded with only two words: "Probably not."
The suspension comes after months of tensions between Butler and the Heat's leadership, most notably team president Pat Riley.
The first major crack appeared after the Heat were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics. Butler missed that entire series with a knee injury, then implied the team would have won with him.
In response, Riley publicly told Butler to "keep your mouth shut." This was also after Riley announced the team wouldn't extend Butler's contract beyond this season.
More recently, there was a report on Christmas that Butler would prefer a trade from the Heat before the deadline in February, though he hadn't made a formal request. Riley strongly rejected the idea, plainly stating, "We are not trading Jimmy Butler" in a statement. Butler didn't seem to agree, as he basically shrugged when asked if he wants to remain with the Heat for the rest of the season. And then, two days later, he was telling the entire basketball world he has no joy for the game and doesn't think it can be fixed in Miami.
This is nowhere close to Butler's first messy break-up with a team, and it's hard to see no teams showing interest in picking up a player with his two-way talent. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6.
Jimmy Butler suspended seven games, Heat now open to trading star in latest twist
The Jimmy Butler-Heat saga has taken yet another turn.
Less than 24 hours after he said he would “probably not” have “joy” by continuing to play for the Heat, the team suspended him on Friday for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team.
On top of that, the team is now saying it will listen to trade offers — a little over a week after team president Pat Riley bluntly said Miami had no intentions to send Butler, 35, out of town.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the Heat said in a statement. “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.
“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
ESPN reported Thursday night — shortly after Butler spoke to reporters after a Miami loss to the Pacers — that he was open to a trade and willing to play anywhere else.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement released by the franchise on Dec. 26. “Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
After Thursday’s game, the third this week in which he did not play during the fourth quarter, Butler said he was looking to find “joy” on the basketball court again.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, and wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back somewhere dominant. I want to hoop, and I want to help this team win. Right now I’m not doing that.”
When asked in a follow-up question if that “joy” could be found in Miami, he said, “Probably not.”
The six-time NBA All-Star has averaged 17.6 points and 4.7 assists per game this season.
Miami Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for seven games, will consider trade offers
Following his postgame comments, the Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler, adding that the team will consider trade offers for the star forward.
The team announced on Friday that Butler has been suspended seven games for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
The Heat continued that, “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
The suspension comes a day after he indicated that he would like to be traded by the Heat, saying in a press conference: “I want to get my joy back.”
Speaking after the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night, the six-time NBA All-Star was asked whether he will be able to find that joy in Miami.
“Probably not,” he replied.
Butler was subdued during the game, scoring nine points and playing none of the fourth quarter, the same as in Wednesday’s 119-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 35-year-old, who spent much of each game standing in the corner on offense, took six shots against the Pacers and just five against the Pelicans.
“I felt like I did my job, or at least what my job is now,” Butler said of Thursday’s defeat.
“But that’s not what I’m used to being. I haven’t been that since my first, second, third year in the league, where I just went out there and played defense. But I competed, I guarded, I tried not to let my man score. But that’s what I’m doing now,” he continued.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. And wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. 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. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
CNN has reached out to Butler’s agent for comment but did not immediately hear back.
It is another instance of Butler-related drama that appears to mark the end of his time with a franchise. His stints in Minnesota and Chicago ended in similar acrimony between the star guard and his team.
Following the press conference, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported that Butler had informed the Heat of his desire to be traded. The veteran reportedly will continue to take part in all team activities and does not plan to give a list of preferred destinations.
The news comes just over a week after Heat president Pat Riley categorically ruled out trading the star.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” he said in a statement on December 26.
“Therefore, we will make it clear – we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
It remains to be seen whether Riley will soften his stance ahead of the trade deadline on February 6.
Riley and Butler have had a difficult relationship since May, according to ESPN, when the six-time NBA All-Star indicated that Miami would not have lost its first-round playoff series to the Boston Celtics had he not been missing with a knee injury.
“If you’re not on the court playing against Boston, or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut,” Riley responded at his end-of-season press conference.
This season, Butler is still posting respectable numbers. He is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while shooting a career-high 55.2% from the field.
The Heat are 17-15 and sixth in the Eastern Conference, two wins worse off than they were at this point last season.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for 'conduct detrimental to the team,' will listen to trade offers
The Miami Heat on Friday suspended forward Jimmy Butler seven games for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team 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 added.
The statement from the team was not attributed to a specific member of the organization. It finished with: “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
The suspension will cost Butler $2.35 million, and he has the right to file a grievance.
The confrontation had been brewing, and the Heat were seemingly unhappy with Butler’s performance in the Heat’s 119-108 victory against New Orleans Wednesday, a game in which Butler had nine points on five shot attempts, four rebounds and two assists. Though it was his first game back after missing two weeks with an illness, he did not play in the fourth quarter.
All things Heat: Latest Miami Heat news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
The Heat broached the idea of a suspension after that game, and then they lost to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
On Dec. 26, as talks of Butler’s future with the team increased, Heat president Pat Riley released a statement: “We will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
It may have been Riley’s intention to keep Butler with Miami through the remainder of the season – the Heat are 17-15 and in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They are among a group of teams hovering around .500 who could earn a fourth seed in the playoffs or fall into the play-in games.
But circumstances have changed.
Butler’s role with the Heat this season is diminished, which has led, in part, to his frustration. Last season, Butler averaged a team-high 20.8 points on 13.2 shots and a 49.9% shooting mark from the field and added 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game and had an usage rating – the percentage of offensive possessions that end with that player – of 23.5.
This season, Butler averages 17.6 points on 55.2% shooting but just 10.5 shots per game and an usage rating of 20.3. His minutes have fallen from 34 per game last season to 30.8 this season. Still, the Heat are better with Butler on the court (Miami outscores opponents by 4.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court vs. being outscored by less than a point with him on the bench).
After the Pacers game, Butler told reporters, “I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. 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.”
Can he rediscover that joy with the Heat? “Probably not,” Butler answered.
Butler is under contract for 2025-26 at $52.4 million for the season but has a player option to become a free agent after this season.
Butler missed five games from Dec. 21 through Dec. 29 with an illness before returning to action Wednesday and now will miss games through Jan. 15. That includes a six-game West Coast trip.
Miami Heat Suspend Star Jimmy Butler 7 Games After He Suggests Trade
Miami Heat star forward Jimmy Butler has been suspended for seven games, the team announced Friday, making the decision one day after Butler suggested a trade from Miami and said he lost his joy for basketball while playing for the team.
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Butler ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of the NBA’s highest-paid players in 2024, bringing in $48.8 million on the court and $10 million through off-court business ventures.
Butler is now in the final year of his roughly $49 million per season contract with the team. Miami Heat president Pat Riley, who said about a week ago the team had no intention of trading Butler, has had a contentious relationship with the star player. Riley suggested Butler should keep his “mouth shut” after the forward said on social media the Heat would have avoided its first-round playoff exit last season if he were healthy and playing. Riley later announced the Heat would not extend Butler’s contract before the current NBA season. Butler is shooting a career-high 55.3% from the field this season, according to ESPN, which noted his teams have made playoff appearances in 12 of his 13 seasons in the NBA.
Heat not trading All-Star Jimmy Butler, Pat Riley says (ESPN)
The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players 2024 (Forbes)
Miami Heat say they are suspending Jimmy Butler for seven games, will seek to trade him
MIAMI (AP) — Miami Heat say they are suspending Jimmy Butler for seven games, will seek to trade him.
Miami Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for "conduct detrimental to the team"
MIAMI - The Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games on Friday and said they will seek to trade him.
The Heat said the suspension was for "conduct detrimental to the team 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 a statement, one day after Butler said in a postgame press conference that he does not believe he can be happy playing in Miami going forward.
Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, or about $2,355,798 in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.
Butler will not be with the team for its home game Saturday against Utah and then the totality of a six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In theory, the earliest that Butler could play again for the Heat is Jan. 17 at home against Denver. But he has likely played for Miami for the final time.
"Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers," the Heat said.
It's a turnaround from a week ago, when Heat President Pat Riley said that the team would not trade Butler.
But now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat - a talking point for weeks - appears to be well past the breaking point.
The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday night, with Butler scoring exactly nine points and sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. It also happened Wednesday in a win over New Orleans.
"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 said. "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."
He was then asked if he can find that joy in Miami. "Probably not," Butler said, and with that, his postgame news conference ended.
The 35-year-old Butler became eligible last summer for a two-year, $113 million extension. The Heat did not offer one, and Riley expressed reservations about how giving such a deal to any player who misses a big number of games.
Butler has missed about one of every four Heat contests since he joined the team. He said at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension decision "take care of itself."
"I guess I've got to go and hoop. ... I've got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I've done it before. This is no different," Butler said then.
But now, the sides are on their way to a bad breakup. It won't be the first for the Heat - LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left before eventually returning, Shaquille O'Neal got traded - and won't be the first for Butler, either.
There are parallels to what's happening in Miami now and the end of Butler's time in Minnesota.
In 2018, Butler was months away from potentially becoming a free agent (as is the case now) and was unhappy with the Timberwolves (as is the case now, just with the Heat). He said in an interview with ESPN - after an infamous practice where he shredded teammates with his play and his words - that he wanted to hear the Wolves saying, "We need you. We want you here. We can't do this without you."
His words from Tuesday suggested the same, that he's not feeling the level of love that he wanted from the Heat. "It's good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that," Butler said after a practice session.
Eventually, Butler got his way. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia - and then he got his way again less than a year later, when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.
Both sides were rewarded along the way. Butler has made about $200 million in salary in his 5 1/2 Heat seasons (with another $25 million still coming this season), and the Heat got to enjoy two runs to the NBA Finals.
It worked. Until it didn't.
Miami Heat suspends star Jimmy Butler for 7 games
The Miami Heat have suspended star small forward Jimmy Butler for seven games, the team announced Friday, and said it will listen to trade offers.
The Heat said in an X post that Butler's suspension was because of conduct that has hurt the team throughout the season.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks," the team said.
The suspension comes a day after Butler indicated he wants off the squad he has led to two NBA Finals.
Butler said Thursday night that he had lost his joy playing in Miami.
“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” he told reporters. “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.”
Asked if he could get his joy back on the court with the Heat, Butler said, “Probably not.”
The six-time all-star’s comments came after the Heat lost to the Indiana Pacers 128-115, with Butler scoring just nine points. He had also scored just nine a day earlier against the New Orleans Pelicans.
ESPN reported later Thursday that Butler "has indicated to the Miami Heat he wants the team to trade him," citing league sources. NBC News has not independently verified that reporting.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has attributed the back-to-back lackluster performances in part to Butler's two-week absence due to an illness.
But the comments about finding joy come amid souring relations with team management that have fueled weeks of speculation.
On Christmas Day, ESPN reported that Butler preferred a trade ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. In response, Heat president Pat Riley issued a rare statement in which he said, “We will make it clear -- we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
But in a post Friday, the Heat said Butler "and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."
"Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team," the Heat said.
The Heat decided not to offer Butler a new contract before the 2024-25 season, when he was eligible for a two-year $113 million extension.
Butler missed the Heat’s first-round playoff series last season due to a knee injury. Following the team's loss to the Boston Celtics, Butler indicated on social media that the team would’ve won the series had he been healthy.
“If you’re not on the court playing, you should keep your mouth shut,” Riley said in response.
Butler has indicated he's open to playing anywhere other than Miami next, ESPN reported sources.
The 35-year-old, known for his combative two-way style and clutch playoff scoring, is in the final year of a $49 million contract and can become a free agent in July.
