Six-time All-Star Heat forward Jimmy Butler has been suspended for the third time this season by his own team. As a result of this latest suspension, he’s out indefinitely. With the NBA trade deadline less than two weeks away, however, he may be seeing on-court action soon enough — for someone else.
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra opted to keep relatively mum on the Butler situation ahead of a 125-119 double-overtime victory Monday over Orlando, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link).
“I get it, what you guys all want right now,” Spoelstra told reporters. “And I figure that’s why this media room is full right now. We’re trying to quiet the noise and we’re just focusing on the task at hand. There is no better place to be than just the present moment.”
When asked about how the Heat’s older players were handling the Butler drama, Spoelstra expressed apathy, Winderman reports (via Twitter).
“I don’t really care,” Spoelstra said. “We’re just focusing on the task at hand.”
For their part, several Heat players opted to downplay the Butler suspension after their teammate reportedly walked out of Monday’s shootaround upon hearing he had been demoted to a bench role in favor of Haywood Highsmith, prompting his latest suspension.
Highsmith himself claimed he did not even notice Butler exit the shootaround, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). After talking with other Miami players, Jackson tweets that it was apparently not a “big scene.”
There’s more out of Miami:
- Thanks to a breakout season, guard Tyler Herro seems like the 23-22 Heat’s best bet to land a player in the All-Star game next month. Writing for The Miami Herald, Jackson considers how Herro compares to the other Eastern Conference guards looking to become All-Star reserves this year, including Cleveland’s Darius Garland and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball.
- Rookie Heat center Kel’el Ware is thriving with expanded minutes and a bigger role for Miami, writes Adam Lichtenstein of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. He had averaged a scant nine minutes per night during his first two months as a pro. Ware has notched a double-double in four of his last five contests, while serving as Miami’s new starting center across the past four. Bam Adebayo has been moved to a forward role. “He’s earned these minutes,” Spoelstra said of Ware. “That’s the most important thing. He’s earned it with what he’s been doing on the court to the point where we had to find ways to get him more minutes.” Jackson notes in another piece that the rookie is already developing a strong bond with young forward Nikola Jovic on the court.
- Spoelstra has been toggling Heat wing Duncan Robinson between a starting role and a bench gig this season, writes Jackson in another article. “It’s never easy,” Robinson said. “We’re all ambitious. We all want what’s best for us as a team, but then we all have our own individual careers. We want that for ourselves as well. You know stuff is going to change. You know the way Spo operates. He’s always pulling triggers, trying to find lineups that work.
Ware is the new star in Miami…
Jimmy who?
There’s a Heat fan here. Who doesn’t believe in a Center. Doesn’t believe in Ware. Doesn’t believe Bam should play PF……. Best thing that can happen to Bam. Is to move to the 4. He can dominate there. And extend his career. Great pick for Heat.
With 2 bigs on the floor, Heat can play and get away with 2 offensive guards on floor at the same time( Hero / Robinson)…. Nicola JOVIC looks good playing with Ware… Starting 5- Ware/ Bam /,JOVIC/ Herro- Robinson—- Though currently SPO has been starting 3&D Highsmith… plays 19 minutes a game( innings eater)… off bench Jacques JR(can start or off bench ) scary Terry Rozier, Rookie Pelle Larson…. Kevin Love back up center? Actually Heat need a young Big / or serviceable big/ center in a trade ( SUCH AS BOOBY PORTIS – if 5 team trade he may possibly get to Miami)…. Best thing in the world is that Jimmy’s gone. They play faster without Jimmy( HIT THE ROAD JACK—- DON’T you COME BACK NO MORE).
If you’re talking about that guy who’s ID starts with 4 or four…. he’s been an idiot for years… he thinks he knows better than literally everyone, and pretty much everything he predicts or says is wrong
Roflmao this is a sad narrative
sad… yet true
You literally defended signing Hassan Whiteside, and didnt want to trade him for what ended up being Jayson Tatum…don’t pull this clownshow claim now
I’ve had zero hostility towards you, but you for some reason, for years, bring me up unprovoked…whatever, continue on however you want
You’re going back 10 years to attack me? LOL that’s pathetic… but ok…. Whiteside was the best center in the NBA in 2015.. and was offered MORE by other teams than the Heat re signed him for… the Heat turned him into Jimmy Butler and went to 2 finals because of it…. No idea wtf you’re talking about tatum.. the Heat screwed up with Justise Winslow on that.. they were offered 5 1st’s that became the core of the current celtics for Winslow in 2014
I was there the last 4 games and am correct
I could understand the hesitance with Ware as a draft pick, because there were issues in college with motivation and maturity. But you have to adjust to reality at some point. And the reality is that Ware is a real offensive weapon who can still play a solid defensive role and allow Bam to shift to the 4 thanks to his shooting touch and length. Even if he doesn’t grow much more than he’s currently shown (something I don’t find likely given his current pace and adjustments), that’s still valuable.
Wasn’t sure he’d help this yr. He’s starting to jell. And he can shoot. Didn’t know that. Being able to go big is a plus imo. And protecting Bam is always a good idea. Just to have this as an option is big imo.
Solid defensive role? He is a situational rotation player against specific matchups in certain lineups…he can’t defend pick and roll, he can’t close put at all to the perimeter, and he is a block chaser…offensively, if he knocks down shots more consistently, that’s his best bet, b/c he’s otherwise a black hole, and the post ups are fairly the work in progress, but again, Hassan Wbiteside comp…Great player; nothing against hi….
He just doesn’t work on this team whome Bam is around, to take up a 15 man roster spot, and be the 15th draft pick, when they were trying to win…now they have some time, but again, behind Bam, Kevin Love, Jovic, Jaime at the 5, and Ware is situational..
He isn’t tradeable b/c he’s a big, so hopefully he turns into what they want him to, but I’m not pretending it’s good b/c it works against specific lineups
He isn’t playing in any universe against a team like Boston in a playoff game, in a winning situation
Again, if Bam wasn’t here, I’d be thinking a little differently possibly, and nothing is against him…
I’ve been literally at the last 4 games, and probably meeting him tonight at an event…
The ideals of small ball do not work when the MVPs are all bigs recently…
Jokic, Embiid and Giannis need to be guarded by talented bigs… Not 3s playing the 5…
Ware can’t guard any of those guys…especially Giannis
The Heat have lost badly multiple times in the playoffs every time they try to go to the multibig lineup, and Milwaukee won a championship the moment they finally stopped using brook Lopez for 40 minutes…
Was never a big Herro fan. Seemed to me when he signed new contract. It kind of went to his head. Like he’s now legit. Sports is about proving yourself ever yr. Mamba mentality is a real thing …….
Herro is having an all star yr. Gotta give it to him. He’s having a big year ……. good work.