The Miami Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for missing a team flight, adding more drama to his trade saga. Speculation grows about a potential move to the Phoenix Suns.
The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler for two games after he missed a team flight, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Butler will miss Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.
This comes shortly after Butler returned from a previous seven-game suspension.
He played in the Heat’s last three games, including Tuesday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
However, he won’t be able to build on that performance this week.
The Heat previously suspended Butler earlier this month, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” They stated that he “no longer wants to be part of this team” and said they were open to trade offers.
Butler himself admitted he wasn’t finding “joy” on the basketball court while with the Heat.
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Butler’s Trade Drama
Trade talks surrounding Butler have been heating up ever since. On Tuesday, Charania reported, “Butler has tripled down on his trade request. He did it to Pat Riley’s face, and last week he did it to Micky Arison, the team owner and CEO.”
It seems Miami has been making progress on a potential deal, with NBA insider Marc Stein suggesting the Phoenix Suns could be his next destination, saying, “the whole league knows he wants” to join the Suns.
Adding to the speculation, Butler wore a shoe colorway during Tuesday’s game that many thought hinted at his desire to play for Phoenix.
What’s Next?
With Butler now 35 years old, this suspension means fewer games for potential trade partners to evaluate his play and attitude.
It’s another layer of drama in an already tense situation for the Heat and their six-time All-Star.
For now, Miami continues to navigate this tricky situation as Butler’s future with the team remains up in the air.
Fans and teams across the league will be watching closely to see what happens next.
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