Jimmy Butler’s six-season tenure with the Miami Heat appears to be nearing its end. Butler, who led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, was suspended by the team Friday for “conduct detrimental to the team,” one day after indicating to the Heat that he would like to be traded.
Butler, who arrived at training camp this season with a declaration of “no shenanigans,” had scored just 18 points combined in the past two games after missing the previous five with an illness. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported as early as Dec. 10 that the Heat were listening to offers on Butler and reported on Dec. 25 that Butler preferred a trade out of Miami.
That escalated to the point that after Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, Butler said that he wanted to find his joy again on the court. When asked if he could do that in Miami, he answered “probably not.”
ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst look at how the situation between the six-time All-Star and the franchise he’s played for since 2019 got to this point, why a trade might not be as easy as it seems and what Butler could bring to a contender.
How did Pat Riley go from vowing not to trade Butler to a seven-game suspension with the Heat now listening to trade offers?
Butler’s tactics to force the Heat’s hands and reverse their stance have appeared to work in the short term. The Heat didn’t fully articulate all the aspects of what they felt was his “conduct detrimental” that led to the suspension, but Butler clearly wanted to be traded and took measures to get the Heat to come to the same conclusion. His lackluster play the past two games after missing five games with an illness are likely on the list. In the short term, this play by Butler will cost him $2.3 million in salary but he could eventually win some or all of it back through a planned players’ union grievance. — Brian Windhorst
How have Riley and the Heat handled similar situations in the past?
Riley has never been afraid to tell star players no or been afraid to walk away from stars when he doesn’t want to pay them. Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade all left to sign elsewhere at various points. He traded Shaquille O’Neal and Shawn Marion, among others, when he wanted to pivot the franchise. Now Butler will be on that list. Riley has always been able to acquire major talents, and that reputation has always emboldened him to play hardball. — Windhorst
This isn’t the first time Butler’s tenure with a team has ended poorly. What happened in Chicago, Minnesota and Philadelphia?
Each of those situations were different. Chicago refused to give Butler a max contract and traded him to Minnesota for a package of young players and draft picks.
The Minnesota situation was very similar to this one: Butler was unhappy with his contract and requested a trade. There was one massive difference, however: Butler had just turned 29, not 35. He eventually was sent to the 76ers for Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless and a second-round pick.
Then, after one season in Philadelphia, the 76ers essentially chose to pay a combination of Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Al Horford over Butler and sent him to Miami in a sign-and-trade during the summer of 2019. — Bontemps
Can the 7-game suspension be extended? Have previous players been suspended this long for similar standoffs?
The suspension includes Saturday’s home game against the Utah Jazz and the upcoming six-game road trip. It is clear that Riley is sending a message that he does not want Butler around the team right now. The unknown is what happens when the suspension ends ahead of Miami’s Jan. 19 home game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Unless Butler is considered to violate the conduct detrimental policy in his contract from the time the suspension starts, Miami cannot extend the suspension to include more games. Because the suspension is by the team and not the NBA, the Heat will not receive luxury tax savings.
