Photo: Peter Baba

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has informed the team that he wants to be traded, according to sources close to the situation, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst.

The six-time All-Star forward has no preference for a specific destination, making it clear that he believes he can lead any team to championship contention.

Butler’s decision comes amid growing frustration, particularly following the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, where Butler scored just nine points.

After the game, he admitted that he had lost his joy for playing in Miami, citing his struggle to feel dominant on the court. “I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball,” Butler said. “Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon.”

This marks a shift for Butler, who has spent the past five seasons with Miami, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals and one additional Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

His decision is partly linked to recent comments made by Heat officials, who suggested that Butler hadn’t been giving his best effort in the team’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans earlier in the week.

“I’m going out there to compete either way; whether I score nine points or 29 points, I will compete,” Butler stated. He defended his play, stating that while his scoring output might not be high, his effort on the court is unwavering.

The situation appears to be escalating. Earlier reports indicated that Butler had a list of preferred teams, including the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks. However, Heat President Pat Riley has firmly stated that the team has no intention of trading Butler, despite preliminary talks with other teams.

Butler’s trade request adds another layer of tension to his already strained relationship with the Heat’s management. This tension dates back to the spring when Riley revealed that the team would not be extending Butler’s contract before the start of the 2024-25 season. Butler, in turn, had expressed dissatisfaction after missing Miami’s playoff series loss to the Boston Celtics due to injury, suggesting that his presence could have changed the outcome of the series.

Butler, now in the final year of his contract with a $49 million salary for the 2024-25 season, has also made it clear that he plans to decline his player option for the 2025-26 season, which would make him a free agent by July 2025.

He is currently averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, while shooting a career-high 55.3% from the field this season.