Heat Insiders Dish on Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors, Suspension: ‘We Don’t Want Him Back’

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Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is eligible to return from his seven-game suspension Friday against the Denver Nuggets, but some within the organization reportedly aren’t looking forward to that possibility.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, one source close to the team said, “I don’t know how he can come back to this locker room,” and another added, “We don’t want him back.”

The Heat announced Butler’s suspension two weeks ago, citing “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.” The team also noted that it would listen to trade offers involving the 35-year-old veteran.

Miami’s decision to suspend Butler came after he publicly expressed his unhappiness playing for the Heat, telling reporters:

“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”

However, there were reportedly multiple instances that led up to the suspension, including some of Butler’s antics on social media.

Per Shelburne, Butler posted a video of himself playing soccer with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba during the Heat’s Dec. 26 game against the Orlando Magic, which Butler missed due to an illness.

Three days later, when Butler was listed as out against the Houston Rockets due to reconditioning, he posted video of himself playing dominoes in the locker room.

Team officials reportedly viewed the posts as “an affront, an attempt to make the situation more uncomfortable,” and things truly came to a head when he rejoined the team after missing five games and had “a very poor attitude,” per a team official.

A source close to Butler told Shelburne, “Jimmy hasn’t even really started,” suggesting that he could make things more uncomfortable if he wants.

Butler’s issues with the Heat have reportedly been bubbling for quite some time as well, dating back to when team president Pat Riley informed Bam Adebayo prior to the 2023-24 season that he would take over for Udonis Haslem as the team’s captain.

Sources close to Butler told Shelburne that he “wasn’t upset” by the choice, but did view it as validation that the Heat viewed Adebayo and Tyler Herro as the future of the franchise.

Those same sources indicated that Butler also came to believe that the Heat started to phase him out on the court in favor of Adebayo and Herro.

Butler is a six-time All-Star and 14-year veteran who has twice led the Heat to the NBA Finals during his six-year tenure with the team.

His production has clearly taken a hit this season, though, as his 17.6 points per game represent his lowest scoring average since the 2013-14 season.

Butler is still the Heat’s second-leading scorer, but Herro has clearly become the go-to guy offensively, averaging a team-leading 24.3 points per contest.

Miami’s inner turmoil has not yielded great results on the court, as the Heat are only eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-19 record despite their depth and talent.

Trading a player of Butler’s caliber may not necessarily make the Heat a better team, but it could potentially create a more harmonious environment, which may be the best argument for doing it.

Until then, Butler is still on the roster, and he is free and clear to return against the Nuggets if the Heat want to allow him to play.