Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler is not happy in south Florida and wants to be traded; BUT on January 27 the Heat suspended Butler for the THIRD time this month!
Butler had just ended his second suspension and left shootaround practice early with no explanation; what the Heat calls “intentionally withholding services”. This time around the suspension is listed indefinitely – but will last at least five games. And he will not be paid.
Reportedly by an anonymous source, Butler was told he would not be in the starting lineup during practice and left shortly thereafter.
According to the team statement, “the Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler without pay effective immediately for an indefinite period to last no fewer than five games,” read the team statement. “The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services. This includes walking out of practice earlier today.”
After the Heat came back from being 14 points down to beat the Orlando Magic 125-119, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “what it means right now is just we proved to ourselves that we have a tremendous amount of grit. You know, and you gain confidence from that.”
Had Butler not left practice and stayed for the game, it would have been the first time since January 27, 2017 (eight years) that Butler would have entered a game off the bench.
Butler was scheduled to come off of a two game suspension after missing the team flight for the game in Milwaukee last week. The first was a seven game suspension for what the team deemed conduct detrimental to the team.
Due to his suspensions Butler has missed 15 of the Heat’s last 20 games.
Butler wants to be traded but his behaviour isn’t the only problem…he has a $48.8 million salary and the NBA has rules regarding trades and big salaries. The trad deadline ends February 6.
Butler says that he loves the city of Miami; apparently, it’s the Heat that is at issue. He was not offered a $113 million two year extension to his contract at the end of the 2024 season. Miami Heat president Pat Riley noted that the team has some reservations about the deal; Butler has missed about 25 percent of the games since joining the team.
To date, butler has lost at least $3 million in salary due to his suspensions. However, the NBA Players Association plans to appeal the first suspension.