As the February 6 trade deadline looms, the Miami Heat is making it clear that it won’t take on any players with contracts extending beyond this season unless it receives draft compensation.
According to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the Heat is determined to fulfill Jimmy Butler’s trade request but is cautious about committing to long-term contracts.
The Heat’s stance comes as Butler’s relationship with the team continues to sour. On January 3, Miami suspended the star forward for seven games due to repeated conduct issues, marking a public escalation of his frustration. The suspension followed Butler’s statement that he no longer believed he could be happy in Miami and his trade request.
Butler was reinstated on January 17 against the Denver Nuggets, where he scored 18 points in a 133–113 loss. However, his return was short-lived. On January 22, Butler was suspended again for two games after missing the team flight to Milwaukee.
On January 27, the Heat imposed an indefinite suspension after Butler walked out of practice ahead of a game against the Orlando Magic. This latest suspension, which will last at least five games, takes the situation through the trade deadline.
As the trade talks intensify, the Heat is setting its terms for any trade involving Butler. Miami’s preference is clear: they want players who can immediately contribute to their playoff push. The team is currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 23-22 record, and it’s focused on staying competitive this season.
However, the Heat is not keen on taking on any long-term contracts, especially those extending beyond the 2024-25 season. If a trade does involve such players, Miami insists on receiving at least one draft pick in return. The reasoning behind this is twofold. First, the Heat doesn’t want to be saddled with unwanted salary commitments, and second, it is aware that if it fails to make the playoffs, the lottery protections on its first-round picks—held by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets—would be removed.
