Heat suspend Jimmy Butler indefinitely, again, amid trade demand after
Jimmy Butler has been sidelined once again.
The Miami Heat suspended Butler indefinitely Monday afternoon amid his demand for a trade, which has yet to be met. It marks his third suspension with the organization this month.
Butler apparently walked out of shootaround Monday morning after learning the team wasn’t going to start him in their game against the Orlando Magic, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Haywood Highsmith will start in his place. Butler was set to return to the team Monday after serving a two-game suspension.
“The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler without pay effective immediately for an indefinite period to last no fewer than five games,” the team said in a statement. “The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services. This includes walking out of practice earlier today.”
Butler will now be suspended for a minimum of five games, though the team called the suspension indefinite. The NBA’s trade deadline is set for Thursday, Feb. 6 — which is one day after Butler would be eligible to return to the court for the team if the suspension were to last only five games.
The suspension, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, will cost Butler more than $2.6 million.
Butler has averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season, his sixth with the Heat. He was first suspended for seven games on Jan. 3 for what the Heat called “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.” He briefly returned, but was then suspended for two games last week after he missed a team flight for a road trip.
Even before his first suspension, he made it clear he wants out of Miami and he wasn’t happy there.
“I want to get my joy back,” Butler said before his first suspension. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to…
