
Miami Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler is reportedly ready to return to the court and suit up for his team once his seven-game suspension concludes. This comes as negotiations for his potential trade remain stagnant.
NBA insider Chris Haynes shared exclusive details on the ongoing situation between Butler and the Heat. Despite Butler’s trade request, the Heat have yet to make significant progress toward moving him. As a result, it seems the star forward will have to rejoin the team if no trade happens before the suspension ends.
According to Haynes, Butler’s relationship with the Heat has been strained for several months. The situation escalated after a meeting with Heat president Pat Riley, where Butler reiterated his trade request. He also made it clear that if he isn’t moved, he intends to opt into his $52 million contract in the offseason, but only to use it as a trade chip.
Haynes explained on Le Batard Show, via HoopsHype, “I was told in the last 5 years, Jimmy took less than 5 separate flights from the team, and 4 of them were in the Finals against Denver when his father was sick.” He continued, “There was something else that rubbed Jimmy the wrong way toward the end of last summer. Jimmy and his camp were informed of a clerical—or excuse me, an accounting—error toward the end of last summer, he didn’t get his paycheck on that period. It took the team about ten days to fix it, but that had never happened before.”
The frustration deepened after the payroll issue. Haynes added, “Things just started to feel a little bit off at that point. I believe he made additional comments later that day or the next. I think that’s what Pat Riley was referring to when he said something along the lines of, ‘If you’re not playing, you probably should stay quiet.’ Obviously, that rubbed Jimmy the wrong way. He felt like those comments took things too far.”
Further fueling the tension, Butler was under the assumption that Riley would visit him in San Diego during the offseason, a meeting that never took place. Haynes stated, “Jimmy was under the assumption that Pat was going to visit him during the offseason at his place in San Diego. Jimmy even told him about it, but that meeting never materialized.”
Despite these unresolved issues, both sides recognize the need for communication. “Both sides recognized the need for a face-to-face meeting to clear the air after everything that happened,” Haynes remarked. “The Heat brought Jimmy into the office on January 1, where they questioned his effort, suggesting they didn’t think he was giving his all.”
While trade discussions have taken place, Haynes emphasized that the Heat are currently not close to trading Butler. “As of now, the Heat aren’t anywhere near a Jimmy Butler trade,” he stated. “What I can tell you right now is that I think he’s a few games removed… he is fully prepared to return to play and suit up for the Miami Heat if he’s not moved by the time his suspension is lifted.”
With both sides expressing their discontent and no resolution in sight, it remains to be seen if Butler will remain with the team long-term or if a trade will eventually happen.