MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games on Friday and announced they will seek to trade him. The decision is based on his “detrimental conduct to the team during the season and particularly in recent weeks”.
"Through his actions and statements, he has shown that he no longer wants to be part of this team," the Heat said in a statement, a day after Butler stated in a press conference that he doesn't believe he can be happy playing in Miami in the future.
Butler will lose $2,355,798 during the suspension. He has the right to appeal, which could reduce the financial impact.
Why did the break between the Heat and their star player Jimmy Butler occur?
"Jimmy Butler and his agent have indicated that they want to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers," highlighted the Heat.
It's a change from a week ago, when Heat president Pat Riley said the team would not trade Butler.
The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday night, with Butler scoring exactly nine points and sitting out during the fourth period for the second consecutive game. This also happened on Wednesday in a victory over New Orleans.
After the match, Butler made scathing statements that apparently blew up his relationship with the Miami team's management.
"What do I want to see happen? I want to get back my joy for playing basketball, wherever that may be, we will find out very soon," said Butler. "I want to regain my joy. I am happy here off the court, but I want to be dominant again. I want to play and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that."
Then they asked him if he could find that joy in Miami. "Probably not," Butler said, and that ended his post-game press conference.
The 35-year-old veteran has missed about one out of every four Heat games since joining the team. He said on media day this fall that he believed his performance this season would make the decision on the extension "resolve itself."
Butler, 35, became eligible last summer for a two-year, $113 million extension, but the Heat did not offer it to him and Riley expressed reservations about giving such a deal to any player who misses a large number of games.
It is not the first time that Butler has had problems with a team.
In 2018, Butler was months away from becoming a free agent (like now) and was unhappy with the Timberwolves (like now). In an infamous practice, he tore apart his teammates with his play and his words and then said in an interview with ESPN that he wanted to hear the Wolves say "we need you. We want you here. We can't do this without you."
Eventually, Butler got what he wanted. Minnesota traded him to the Sixers and then he got his way again less than a year later when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade deal. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.
Both parties were rewarded along the way. Butler earned around $200 million in salary during his five seasons with the Heat, and Miami enjoyed two runs to the NBA Finals.
It worked. Until it didn’t.