The Miami Heat suspended star guard Jimmy Butler for seven games due to “multiple acts detrimental to the team.”
Butler said Thursday night that he missed the joy of playing in Miami after scoring just nine points against the Indiana Pacers.
“Through his actions and words, he has shown that he no longer wants to be a part of this team,” the Heat said in a statement Friday night. “Jimmy Butler and his agent have indicated that they would like to be traded, so we will listen to offers.”
Editor’s picks
2 Related
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday that Butler has indicated to the Heat that he wants to be traded.
“I want to see him get the joy of playing basketball back, and wherever that may be, you’ll see it right here,” Butler said after Thursday’s game against the Pacers. “I’m happy off the court, but I want to get back to some dominant form, I want to play hoops, I want to help the team win, and I’m not doing that right now.”
When asked if he could bring the joy back to the court with the Heat, Butler said, “Probably not.”
Sources told Charania that the issue that led to Butler’s decision to request a trade was that Butler did not play at his full potential in the Heat’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. This was hinted at by team officials on Thursday. Butler, playing for the first time in 13 days after missing the game due to illness, had nine points on just five shots in 25 minutes.
Heat manager Erik Spoelstra did not play Butler in the fourth quarter of either game this week.
Butler will not participate in Saturday’s home game against the Utah Jazz and will then travel to all six games against Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the suspension will cost Butler $336,543 for each game he misses, for a total of $2.35 million. The National Basketball Players Association plans to file a motion challenging the suspension, calling it “excessive and inappropriate.” However, the complaint process takes time and the suspension is unlikely to be stopped.
Butler is in the final guaranteed year of his contract. He has a player option worth more than $52 million next season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
