Photo: Peter Baba

The ongoing situation between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat took another contentious turn, as the team announced a two-game suspension for the All-Star forward after he missed a team flight.

Butler had planned to take a private charter and meet the team in Milwaukee, a practice he has occasionally followed in the past without issue. However, this time, the Heat responded differently.

“This has turned into, really, an ugly, bitter, any word you want to use, end, a divorce to a relationship that overall has been pretty successful,” reported Shams Charania.

“You think about the last five years for Jimmy Butler: three appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals, two of which were NBA Finals runs. And right now, this is a situation where the Heat are putting their foot down on a lot of the stuff.”

According to Charania, the situation escalated when Butler informed the team of his intentions to travel separately and join them in Milwaukee. Before he had the chance to follow through on his plan, the Heat made a decisive move.

“Jimmy Butler has traveled separately away from the team in the past before at times, and he was planning to do the same thing yesterday, joining the team in Milwaukee last night instead of going on the team flight. So, he tells the team that he’s going to fly separately on a private charter, and he will join the team in Milwaukee,” Charania explained.

“But before he even got a chance to do so, I’m told, the Heat called him and informed him to stay home. That they don’t want him there, and they were suspending him for two games on this quick two-game road trip that they have. And they’ll play again in Miami next week. But where the situation is at is it’s untenable.”

The fallout has sparked intensified trade rumors surrounding Butler, with Miami reportedly exploring potential deals. Despite their strained relationship, both sides still appear to share a common goal of maintaining competitiveness. However, finding a resolution that satisfies both parties has proven challenging.

“Both sides have the same goals,” Charania added. “But how do you get there? And getting to the asking price.”

Butler has expressed interest in a potential trade to the Phoenix Suns, but executing such a deal will require significant effort and likely the involvement of multiple teams to facilitate the transaction.

For now, no trade seems imminent, leaving the Heat and Butler in a state of uncertainty as their once-fruitful partnership continues to unravel.