The Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler indefinitely, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Monday.
Butler, 35, was set to return from his two-game suspension Monday against the Orlando Magic. But the star forward reportedly left shootaround early after he was told he was not going to start, Charania noted.
The team released a statement shortly after the suspension was announced.
“The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services,” the statement read. “This includes walking out of practice earlier today.”
According to ESPN Front Office insider and former executive Bobby Marks, the Heat’s designation of “withholding services” bumps Butler’s fine to roughly $532K per game, which would amass a $2.7 million fine over the next five games (at minimum).
This marks Butler’s third suspension this month. He was suspended on Jan. 3 for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team, less than 24 hours after requesting a trade away from the organization. Last week, he was suspended again for two games for a, “continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team.”
The Heat have five games until the Feb. 6 trade deadline, which is less than two weeks away.
When it’s all said and done, Butler will have been suspended at least 14 games, which is a lot given that he’s playing for another max contract.
Who knows whether or not a team will be incentivized–or de-incentivized–to trade for Butler ahead of next week’s deadline? This situation is only becoming more untenable for the Heat and the rest of that locker room. Both sides could’ve handled this better, but it’s best that Butler being away from the team is best for everyone involved–especially if he doesn’t want to be there and take an increased role off the bench.
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Deserved towards all parties. Can’t wait to see the return.
jimmys making me look bad.was hoping for a reconciliation but its officially over.still think its gonna be hard to move him.pat take anything.i believe the heat look almost as bad as jimmy.u dont get this mad for no reason.bad look for both parties
Barry Jackson: Talked to more Heat players. Butler departure happened very late in practice. Players already were shooting at different baskets. No big scene. One Heat player said this whole notion that all this disrupts players and creates chaos isn’t true. If anything, has “galvanized” team.
Man that’s a lot of $$$!! Can I play even for a few secs replacing Jimmy?! I’d do it for a cheap five grand a game 😝
I mean, I can understand that he wants to maximize his earnings in the next two years and the contract extension is definitely the way to do it. I don’t blame him for wanting to get paid. I don’t blame him for wanting to get traded to Phoenix,since it is the only team willing to give him this max extension (or contract or whatever). But I don’t think his actions will help him in any way to achieve his goal. I just can’t see any logic in what he does. It just seems stupid and really unnecessary.
Keep an eye out for muscle strains or pulls once he’s traded and on a new team.
I agree with all you said
May I assume my buddy hfl will no longer be suggesting there will be some type of miraculous reconciliation?
C’mon, there is still a chance, right?
Well, I never say never, but in this case…?
Yeah, this is definitely beyond limits of my imagination.
HA! Yeah after Pat gives him 50 million middle fingers
I was hoping for that but after that mtg with Arison all hopes are out the proverbial window
his disgrace it complete. i dont know that his legacy will ever recover in miami
It shouldn’t if there was anything right in this world. lol
Good for the Heat! They are pushing him to the point where he will want out to absolutely any team. I do continue to hope and believe this gets resolved soon.
Well, no one could say they didn’t see this coming. Hopefully, It will likely be over in a few days. It is a shame it’s ending so bad. It’s ironic as I still say that in a team sport no one ever carried his team more on their back than Jimmy did in the two years we reached the finals. And now there is antipathy for him. Perhaps we will have a better perspective on the Jimmy era after time passes.
Butler, of course, is not totally at fault. But he continues to say and do dumb things that make things worse. I hope he’s gone soon, but I will never discount the great moments he had here.
Exactly. I know he is dismantling his legacy here, but it’s hard for me to forget that he brought us so much joy.
No mas Jimmy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tldGgGFe194
Well that’s one way of making sure he doesn’t get injured before being traded.
Well, guys. Roles are pretty clear now. Lol
unfortunately for miami they will not get a good deal for him b/c jimmy has wiped his bum on his trade value