After his second suspension in January, Jimmy Butler is expected to rejoin the Miami Heat for their game against the Orlando Magic. However, his future with the team remains ambiguous.
Butler is reconciling with the team for the second time this month after another suspension was issued for violating the team code of conduct.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Butler is slated to be in the lineup again on Monday against the Orlando Magic.
Butler was on a two-game suspension for a ‘continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team,’ which also included skipping a team flight to Milwaukee.
The present suspension follows Butler’s second request for a trade on January 2, along with his other one on January 3.
The primary suspension was also because of ‘conduct that was counter-productive towards the team,’ it lasted for 7 games.
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The Heat stated then, ‘Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.’
During Butler’s most recent suspension, the Heat lost rather badly against The Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday but pulled a good 106-97 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.
Tyler Hero led the Nets with 25 points, and Bam Adebayo secured 16 rebounds.
Currently, the Heat are 22-22, caught at eighth place in the Eastern Conference, and are actively trying to get in the playoff zone.
Butler’s potential as a threat to the team seems high, and recently, he made comments expressing negative feelings about the Miami team.
On Saturday, he spoke during a paddle tournament and claimed he did not know if it was his last time in the Heat uniform. With all the tension rising between Butler and the Heat, his time with the team seems to have a reset.
The world is looking at Miami closely; this might be the final chapter of Butler and the Heat coming together.
Also Read: Jimmy Butler’s Relationship with Miami Heat Hits Breaking Point