The Miami Heat are considering changing the designation of Jimmy Butler’s team-sanctioned seven-game suspension, which concludes this week, NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported Wednesday.
The original designation was multiple instances of “conduct detrimental to the team,” though Haynes suggested that the Heat have considered changing it to “refusing to provide services.”
How Changing Suspension Affects Jimmy Butler:
Jimmy Butler’s lost out on nearly $2.5 million — $2.35 million, or 1/145 of his $48.8 million salary for 2024-25, to be exact, according to Bobby Marks — as a result of his suspension, which was handed down on Jan. 3.
If the designation were to be changed, Butler’s fine would be doubled. The player’s association is expected to file a grievance with the NBA regarding Butler’s fine, though it has not been filed yet as of Sunday, according to Heat insider Ethan Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports.
Those grievances could take up to a year to decide, so we likely won’t have a resolution anytime soon.
Jimmy Butler will be eligible to return to the lineup on Jan. 17 against the Denver Nuggets. The Heat conclude their six-game West Coast Road Trip Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers, who have lost three straight games. Miami is 3-3 since Butler’s suspension, coming off a 109-98 loss to the Clippers Monday.
This is another attempt for the Heat to re-gain leverage in this messy back-and-forth skirmish. Butler reportedly told Heat president Pat Riley last week that he wanted to be traded and threatened to opt-in to his $52.1 million player option to use for a trade this summer, allowing Butler to build up his currently–diminishing value in a different situation next season. Butler knows the Heat don’t want to partake in the circus again next year. And it would be the best for everyone involved if that wasn’t the case.
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I ordered a large Big Head coffee, and it’s only half full and watered down.
And way overpriced and the barista sneezed in it.
Wow! A scorched earth policy in both directions! People often talk about the amount of money that the owner has. This is the one time I wish the owner would leverage that money and make it clear to Butler that if he tries to blackmail the Heat, that rather than insist Butler play, he (Arison) would sooner forfeit the money this season and would do so again next season if Butler ops in by sitting him on the bench. That would effectively ruin Butler’s career!
Now, obviously, that isn’t the best solution. It will magnify the toxic situation that already exists. But Butler needs to understand that his primary donna attitude is not going to fly with this team!
Prima donna, not primary