After a previous suspension for seven games, the Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler for an additional two games.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Butler’s latest suspension was because he missed a team flight.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for [a] continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today’s team flight to Milwaukee,” the team said in a statement.
According to the report, Butler was set to join the Heat on Wednesday (January 22) night after missing the flight. Because of the suspension, Butler will miss the Heat’s Miami two-game road trip that includes Thursday (January 23) at the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday (January 25) at the Brooklyn Nets.
Charania also noted that the Heat want to find a deal to accommodate Butler’s request for a trade but in return are seeking a “ combination of players who can help Miami win now, draft capital, movable short-term salary and young talent.”
In early January, Butler was suspended for seven games for conduct that the team said was detrimental to the team. The suspension was without pay and cost Butler around $2.4 million in salary.
When asked about his status with the Hear on Friday (January 17), Butler said “we are where we are.”
“I guess it’s basketball at this point,” Butler said after the Heat’s loss to the visiting Denver Nuggets. “I know what I’m expected to do while I’m here. And I’ll try to do that to the best of my ability, but we are where we are.”
Butler is in the last year of his contract. He has a player option worth more than $52 million for next season.
Negotiations with the Heat caused a fracture in the relationship. Butler could sign a max, two-year, $113 million deal but the Heat never put the deal on the table. Since joining the teal in 2019, Butler has missed nearly 25% of the team’s games.
Last month, it was reported that Butler preferred to be traded to the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and the Golden State Warriors.
Leave a Reply