Heat suspend Jimmy Butler for 7 games and will seek to trade him

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler was Miami's best player for five years, the leader of a team that went to the NBA Finals twice in his tenure. He talked big and, at times, played bigger. He spoke with reverence for the city, for the franchise, for the famed ''Heat Culture.''

He also missed a lot of games, seemed unhappy at times and then didn't get a $113 million extension that he was eligible for last summer.

And now, a breakup looms.

One day after Butler said that he doesn't think he can find on-court joy in Miami going forward, the Heat suspended him for seven games and said they will listen to trade offers — a clear sign that they do not expect him to wear their uniform again.

''We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,'' the team said in a statement Friday night. ''Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.''

Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, about $2,355,798 in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.

The National Basketball Players Association said it intends to file a grievance, calling the seven-game suspension ''excessive and inappropriate.''

In theory, the earliest that Butler could play again for the Heat is Jan. 17 at home against Denver. But he has likely played for Miami for the final time.

''Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers,'' the Heat said.

Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The team saying it's open to moving the six-time All-Star is a sharp turnaround from a week ago, when Heat President Pat Riley said that the team would not trade Butler.

That was then. Now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.

''What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we'll find out here pretty soon,'' Butler said after Thursday's game. ''I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that.''

He was then asked if he can find that joy in Miami. ''Probably not,'' Butler said, and with that, his postgame news conference ended.

Most likely, so did his Heat tenure.

''Who moves the needle the most on our team is Jimmy,'' Riley said in May, after last season ended. ''Jimmy moves the needle the most. He's an incredible player.''

Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in team history in points, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in just 313 appearances. And in the playoffs, he was exceptional: There have been 18 games of 40 or more points in team postseason history and Butler is responsible for eight of them, including a record 56-point night against Milwaukee in the 2023 playoffs.

Butler has missed about one of every four Heat contests since he joined the team. He said at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension decision ''take care of itself.''

''I guess I've got to go and hoop. ... I've got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I've done it before. This is no different,'' Butler said then.

It didn't happen.

The bad breakup won't be the first for the Heat — LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left before eventually returning, Shaquille O'Neal got traded — and won't be the first for Butler, either.

There are parallels to what's happening in Miami now and the end of Butler's time in Minnesota.

His words from Tuesday in Miami suggested the same, that he's not feeling the level of love that he wanted from the Heat. ''It's good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that,'' Butler said after a practice session.

Eventually, Butler got his way. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia — and then he got his way again less than a year later, when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.

Both sides were rewarded along the way. Butler has made about $200 million in salary in his 5 1/2 Heat seasons (with another $25 million still coming this season), and the Heat got to enjoy two runs to the NBA Finals.

It worked. Until it didn't.

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