Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler suspended 7 games after requesting trade, says he has no ‘fun’ with team
Rumors that star forward Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami have been circulating for weeks — and the Heat even issued a statement saying it had become a distraction and they wouldn’t trade him.
Well, over the course of a week, the team did a U-turn, acknowledging in another statement on Friday that Butler had asked to leave and that they would seek to accommodate that request.
In the same statement on Friday, the Heat announced they had suspended Butler for seven games “due to his conduct that has been detrimental to the team on multiple occasions this season, particularly over the past few weeks.”
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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler warms up before Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets at the Kasea Center in Miami on June 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Butler said Thursday he didn’t have “fun” playing basketball in Miami and he won’t be able to find that fun again with the Heat.
“Through his actions and statements, he has made it clear that he no longer wants to be a part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representatives have indicated that they want to be traded, and therefore, we will listen to offers,” Heat Weekly Five means.
Butler’s agent has shut down ESPN reports that he wants to be traded, but the opposite always seems to be the case.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler leaves the court after his team’s victory over the Boston Celtics during Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2022 in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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Butler will not be with the team for Saturday’s home game against the Utah Jazz and then will play in six road games, including games against the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Butler could theoretically play for the Heat as early as Jan. 17 at home against the Denver Nuggets, but it’s likely he will play for Miami for the last time.
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat shoots during Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at FTX Arena in Miami on May 19, 2022. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
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Butler averaged 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his sixth season with the Heat. He played in two NBA Finals with them and lost both times.
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