Heat suspend Warriors trade target Butler, will listen to offers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Jimmy Butler era with the Miami Heat might be nearing a conclusion.
The Heat announced Friday that they have suspended Butler seven games for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.”
The Heat also said they now will listen to trade offers for their disgruntled star.
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the team said in a statement. “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
After scoring just six points in 27 minutes of action in the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night at Kaseya Center, Butler had a matter-of-fact press conference with reporters where he talked about his current role and what he wants to see happen to fix the issues.
“What do I want to see happen?” Butler said (h/t Locked On Heat reporter Wes Goldberg). “I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. But I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop. I want to help this team. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
Butler was then asked if he can get his joy back on the court in Miami.
“Probably not,” Butler said.
Jimmy Butler with an extremely candid media session.
Said he wants his joy back on the court.
Asked if he can find that joy here, he replied “Probably not.” pic.twitter.com/AwSLbstr4W
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) January 3, 2025
The Warriors are one team Butler is open to joining via trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Christmas Day, citing league sources, along with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. But in return, the Heat likely would want a trade asset Golden State has been unwilling to part with before — Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported Friday.
Following the Heat’s announcement, Charania and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported, citing sources, that the National Basketball Players Association soon will file a grievance to dispute Butler’s seven-game suspension.
The National Basketball Players Association will soon file a grievance to dispute the Miami Heat’s seven-game suspension of Jimmy Butler, sources tell me and @WindhorstESPN. The grievance process is lengthy, however, and will likely not stop suspension.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 4, 2025
With the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline just a few weeks away, it certainly will be interesting to see what happens with the unhappy veteran.
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