Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is set to miss his fourth-straight game on Thursday, as he continues to serve his seven-game suspension. Butler’s trade request after back-to-back games in which he scored a pitiful nine points in each game was the reason for his suspension.
Despite his suspension, he’s still a member of the Heat organization, that is, until he gets traded. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the franchise issued a statement addressed to its players regarding the next step regarding Butler. Miami reportedly informed the All-Star’s teammates that his return to the lineup is “likely” the next move.
“While trades can always materialize quickly in the Association, team sources say Miami is prepared to take its time with a Butler trade to maximize its return,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote. “This was the messaging shared internally after Butler was suspended seven games by the team on Friday for ‘conduct detrimental to the team,’ and before the Heat embarked on a six-game, 10-day road trip that continues with a game at Utah on Thursday night.”
“In the wake of Butler’s trade request and subsequent suspension, team officials told Heat players that the prospect of the 35-year-old, six-time All-Star returning to the court with them after the suspension was the most likely next step. With Butler’s actions on and off the court seen by Heat officials as increasingly problematic, team sources say they opted to sit him for the entirety of this trip so that the issues could be addressed in earnest when the team returns home rather than on the road.”
Report: Miami Heat relayed message to players about Jimmy Butler’s potential return
https://t.co/SIIUOmw0na— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 9, 2025
Butler is set to return on Jan. 17, against a familiar foe, the Denver Nuggets.
“Soft” trade offers another reason for Jimmy Butler’s Heat return
After Butler made his trade request to the Heat, several rumors of which team would land him were rampant. However, Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang revealed that the organization hasn’t received a pleasing offer.
“Miami has not been presented with an appealing offer and is planning for Butler to rejoin the Heat for next Friday’s game against Denver,” wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “According to sources, that would change only if an appealing trade offer is made in the next week. In the meantime, the Heat will continue to try to trade him; those efforts have not stopped. But the market has been soft and no team has been willing to offer anything that particularly intrigues the Heat.”
NEW from Salt Lake City: More becomes clear today about Riley/Butler situation, with return next Friday now planned unless good offer suddenly comes in. Plus Riley's fascinating comments to Le Batardhttps://t.co/IOQPcQyaP5
PLUS Love; Herro on falling in vote— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 9, 2025
Butler has played in 22 games for the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. His numbers this season (specifically in scoring) are his lowest in his six-year stay in Miami.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
