10:22pm: Butler has indicated to the Heat that he wants to be traded, according to Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Although Charania previously identified the Suns, Warriors, Mavericks, and Rockets as favored landing spots for Butler, he and Windhorst now say the forward doesn’t intend to give the Heat a list of preferred destinations and that he’s open to going anywhere.
Butler, who plans to take part in team activities and do what the Heat ask of him during the process, believes he can make any team a contender, regardless of where he’s sent, sources tell ESPN.
According to Charania and Windhorst, Riley and Heat owner Micky Arison have met with Butler’s representation in recent days in the hopes of bridging the divide between the two sides, but those efforts weren’t successful.
Confirming previous reports, ESPN’s duo says there has been tension between Butler and the Heat since the team indicated near the start of the offseason that it wouldn’t be offering him an extension and since Riley scolded Butler for his claim that the Celtics and Knicks would “be at home” if he had been able to play in the postseason. Riley and Butler’s relationship has yet to recover, sources tell ESPN.
9:54pm: For a second straight night after returning from a five-game absence, Heat star Jimmy Butler appeared passive and disengaged during his time on the court on Thursday, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Butler has totaled just 18 points on 11 shot attempts across Miami’s past two games, spending much of his time in the corner without the ball in his hands. While his quiet night didn’t prevent the Heat from picking up a win over New Orleans on Wednesday, the club was beaten soundly by Indiana on Thursday and Butler was a team-worst minus-27 in his 27 minutes of action.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s loss, head coach Erik Spoelstra referred to Butler’s performances as “aberrational,” suggesting that he was more concerned about his club’s poor defensive play, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter links). Spoelstra added that the team needed to get the ball into Butler’s hands more to get him going, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
Butler’s demeanor is being monitored closely since a Christmas Day report indicated he preferred a trade out of Miami and Heat president Pat Riley announced a day later that the club wouldn’t be moving the 35-year-old. When he rejoined the team on Tuesday, Butler told reporters that he was “happy” and intended to make the most out of his current situation. However, he didn’t exactly strike the same tone in his post-game media session on Thursday.
“I feel like I did my job, or what at least my job is now,” Butler said when asked about his performance (Twitter video link via Wes Goldberg of Locked on Heat). When a reporter mentioned Spoelstra’s comments about getting the ball in his hands more, Butler shook his head and replied, “That ain’t gonna fix it.”
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball,” Butler said when asked what he wants to see happen next. “Wherever that may be. We’ll find out here pretty soon. But I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here off the court, but… I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now I’m not doing that.”
Asked by a reporter if he can get his on-court joy back in Miami, Butler responded, “Probably not.”
The Heat, who were said to be underwhelmed by their options for Butler on the trade market, had hoped to put the issue to bed when Riley said in a statement last Thursday that the six-time All-Star wouldn’t be going anywhere. The goal at that point was to focus on the current season and wait until the summer to figure out Butler’s future. He holds a $52.4MM player option for 2025/26 that he reportedly plans to decline.
However, given how the last two games – and Butler’s latest media session – have gone, it’s getting increasingly more difficult to imagine him being content with playing out the season in Miami. With five weeks still to go until the February 6 trade deadline, the Heat front office figures to be weighing its next move.
It’s only about one word – joy
Butler wants joy
Butler wants to be traded ASAP
Heat don’t want to trade him
Now it’s Heat turn to solve the problem
What?
You must be new here
Never change, Sill
WHAT
There is a lot of joy getting your ass whooped by the Celtics, the team YOU, Jimmy, said you own?
This is not Joy, this is Jimmy jumping ship because Tatum and Brown remember what he said and they wont let him forget.
Better run to the Lakers Jimmy, maybe Lebron will keep you safe.
Reeves, Rui, Knecht, and Christie for Butler and Love. That works for payroll and Miami could work those players into a good team. Lakers go all in for 1 years to be a champ.
General Soreness is getting salty…
Will he enjoy playing for the Wizards?
Why would the Wizards get Jimmy lol
Because I can’t imagine a good team wanting him. The guy is becoming a cancer. If things are not going his way, he doesn’t have joy and stands in the corner and doesn’t play.
Plus, it’s difficult to acquire Jimmy unless the heat have no regard for the return. $48 million going out needs $48 million coming in. Might have to be undesirable contracts. How does that improve the heat?
Might have to be some complicated three or four team thing at the deadline.
This Harden-esque trend of unhappy stars forcing their way out really has to end… I hope Pat Riley stands by his statement.
Sounds like you are endorsing slavery, dont fault the player fault the game.
Yeah, poor Jimmy. It’s devastating he was forced to sign a 3y, 146M extension against his will. Paraphrasing Roy Batty, that’s what it is to be a slave.
And in time all these moments will be lost like tears in the rain – Roy B
uh, last I checked slaves don’t make $50mil per year
Yeah Davey is special…
I don’t think that means what you think it does.
How exactly do you fault the game? The Heat have paid Butler handsomely despite him missing a lot of games, he’s generally been on competitive teams, he plays for one of the best coaches in the NBA, and the organization has been relatively stable since he arrived there. Moreover, nothing Riley said was untrue nor even truly critical of Butler. He’s just throwing a temper tantrum for no justifiable reason.
The only thing I’ll give him credit for is not sitting out or trying to steer himself to specific teams. Then again, the latter may simply result from being delusional enough to believe he can make any team a contender.
Stars have a few (1-3) times. In their careers to go where they want. Get paid what they can. He’s got an out on his contract. Jimmy wants to use it. WTF are you to tell him he can’t. Right or wrong for his career. It’s his decision to make. It’s the players right.
Then he can do that when his contract is actually up. He is being paid millions of dollars right now to play (not just play but compete as a superstar).
Now I do get Jimmy’s perspective a little but he could have signed for a shorter contract if he wanted to couldn’t he have.
First off what do you know about them. Heat are on record for low balling him. the story is they told him they would renegotiate. I understand Heats side. It might be time to move on. Jimmy got 4 yrs at best. He is the talent. If they don’t want him then trade him. All real stars will always have the leverage. Is it your money. The market dictates the contract not the team.
Low balling him? $48M per at the time was not low balling, and he signed. As part of the business transaction he agreed to he should at least perform. Joy? That’s his problem to deal with.
At this stage in his career, part-time Jimmy isn’t worth the hassle
I am henceforth referring to him as part-time Jimmy. Thank you Cam I needed a good laugh.
As soon as he’s traded (like Harden) he’ll be happy again and play hard. Harden stood around in Houston got traded to the Nets was happy then injuries so he stood around some more then to Philly he was happy more standing around finally he seems happy in la. These superstar divas are terrible for the game
Lets goooo Miami Heat downfall
It’s DIVA TIME…in Miami
What a Primma Donna ungrateful man child. He has it so tough, as a Heat fan peace brother peace ✌
Butler did the same thing here with Bulls and had a stat line for the ages, something along the lines of 3 FGA in 35+ MPG. After he quit on the team, I literally do not care or believe anything that comes out of his mouth.
Zach for Jimmy on the way, another special night Reinsdorf can use to sell tickets, then let Butler leave in FA
Steve, there’s a REASON why rose and him didnt get along and I’m not a rose guy but he was all about the team and his teammates LOVED him. Butler is a cancer and there’s a reason why Minnesota and Philadelphia both dropped him. Media hyped him up after Covid finals run lmao
Rose was done already. Getting hurt again and again. Jimmy had his best yr in NBA with Bulls.
Only cancer is your noise …..
Please stop. You clearly don’t know what you are talking about. This happened before Rose left for your beloved Knicks. Everyone in this city knew that Rose/Butler didn’t get along and that’s because Butler wanted to be the 1 guy while Rose still had the emotional value for most Bulls fans. If he was done, why did your team trade for him then? Explain that to me wise one.
Al, I just saw a few of his game logs from Butler’s last season with the Bulls (2016-17) age 27.
3 points 3 rebs 2 assists 0 steals 2 FTA in 33 Minutes 1/13 FG (this was the game for me that sealed the deal)
5 points 7 rebs 3 assists 2 steals 0 FTA in 31 Minutes 2/11 FG
“Best year with Bulls” Another statement from Al who kept begging his team to trade for DeRozan the last three years while he was in Chicago with every proposal saying “DeRozan for ____”. Remember he also wanted to get paid here, but GarPax didn’t want to offer anything above $95M and Butler wanted to get $120M at the time.
Sit this one out and let the actual Bulls fans talk who seen this guy ruin another team.
Sounds like a lot of ya’ll think he’s out there missing shots on purpose.
He only wants max $ and Miami won’t pay him that.
I seriously hope Rockets don’t go for Butler. Let him be someone else’s headache and disrupt their team chemistry
Yeah, the Rockets have something really good developing there. If they break that down for a 35 year old diva with injury concerns, Rafael Stone should be drug-tested.
That’s where I want him to go because of the plethora of prospects you guys got.
If you hear what he is saying between the lines, Riley and Spo came up with a plan to remove him from being the focal point of the offense, hence his new ‘job’ comment. If nobody is giving him the ball just to prove a point then why should he want to stay with this team ran by egomaniacs?
Wow, you think Jimmy is not involved in the decision for him to not have the ball and not shoot? He is “on the court” and “doing his job” but he is not going to work hard since the Heat don’t want to give him an extension years in the future.
When Jimmy wants to try and when Jimmy wants to shoot, the Heat will welcome him with open arms and give him the ball.
I’d be content to get paid that to be the star for Miami but everyone is different. With the limited number of possible outcomes to his request, I just don’t know if he thought this timing through very well.
The falling out Butler had in Minnesota is, in hindsight, absolutely hilarious. Painting Towns and Wiggins as soft when he’s now trying to force his way out because his feelings are hurt is as soft as they come. Between the expected cost, lack of availability and headaches he’s in for a rude awakening regarding his upcoming market.
Best case for the Heat would be to send him to a pretender while still netting a decent return.
And Wiggins is an nba champion and KAT is an MVP candidate for the Knicka lol
Really puts things into perspective.
I didn’t like what Butler did in in Minnesota but this is different. Riley all but said in the off-season that he doesn’t see Butler as part of the Heat’s future going forward. If you don’t want him then trade the guy! I don’t think he is the player the Suns, Rockets or Warriors need but he can make a huge difference in Denver or Dallas.
Why do the Heat need to trade him? There is a contract. It isn’t over. Play basketball, Jimmy…then make a decision on your option in the offseason. That’s the agreement the two parties reached.
When is joy ever guaranteed or promised in anyone’s contract / employment.
It’s not, but if you have the power to go get it, do that!
And if it means making everyone around you miserable until you do, so be it!
Riley thought he could get in the Jimmy Butler business while avoiding Himmy Butler. Nobody is bigger than Himmy. And honestly, I get it–Jimmy has been truly excellent for them, and the Heat are much better off for having had him.
Jimmy could never get the job done
Kings, Suns and Mavs should be calling right now
Heat waive Richardson, Burks and Smith
Kings offer Huerter, Murray, Lyles, Carter, Jones, Len, cash and picks for Butler and Love
Remember Murray is shooting absolutely horrible from everyone’s favorite spot.. the 3. Yes good defense
Heat waive Len
Kings promote I Jones. Told you he would make it
Kings should do this. Include Richardson in the trade
I root for the Kings. Hope we don’t trade for Jimmy Butler.
Heat waive Richardson, Burks and Smith
Dallas offers Klay Thompson, Maxi K, Marshall, Lively, Grimes and Hardy plus picks for Butler and Love
Suns offer Beal, Dunn, Oso and picks for Butler and Love
Beal no trade clause, they can’t offer him lol
They can but it’s up to Beal in the end. He can waive it. They can offer him. What are you talking about lol back at you
Wolves offer McDaniels, Donte D, Alexander-Walker and Garza with picks for Butler, Richardson and Love
Hell no.
Trade Julius straight up or nothing.
Donte is starting to come alive and NAW has been our best consistent player all year.
He already left the organization in not the best of terms lol
Most likely trade destinations seem Golden State or Chicago?
Golden State: Wiggins, Schroder, GPII and Looney (+picks) for Butler, Love and Burks?
Chicago: Lavine for Butler?
Probably will be a multi-team-trade I guess.
Warriors I could get they are semi contenders. Why would the bulls trade for him ?
To get rid of Lavines contract and because Chicago always does weird and bad trades. But they shouldnt indeed.
That’s a bad trade for the Warriors.
Chicago loses its first round draft pick if it is outside the top 10. So the price Miami would pay in that trade would reflect that.
Warriors do not have the payroll for Butler so he is not going to GSW.
Fans love to follow the media train and slack of players
He gave his heart and soul to this team and got them deep into the playoffs year after year with next to nothing. All this has come about because of Pat Riley. Pat didn’t give him the extension he wanted and he didn’t make any trades to make this team any better and now Jimmy is saying I’ve had enough. He’s using the only leverage he has as a star player and asked to be traded a couple times now. Pat is refusing cause he doesn’t like the reruns but Jimmy doesn’t care what Pat likes he doesn’t want to be there anymore and it’s his own fault they are now in this situation.
Jimmy is without a doubt a top 25 player in the NBA and he makes every team in the league better.
Until he gets his feelings hurt and stands in the corner and puts up a team high -27 then he’s not making too many teams better
I mean if you don’t like it, don’t play him.
In today’s market and at Jimmys age. He’s not worth 50 mill a yr. But he’s still worth plenty to the right team. I would think Heat are one of those teams. Who would give him a big contract. So for him to want out. Means it’s not about money only. Doesn’t look gd for him to come back now.
A team who wants to contend. Can afford to pay Jimmy. After next yrs 52 mill expires. I just can’t see him getting a super max contract. Also by Heat trading him. Does it mean they are retooling team now. Or try and rebuild in a yr. Heat are a vet team. Never thought he would leave. But this story doesn’t look good for either side.
Man I love jimmy but he does not make any team a contender when he plays 50 games a year.
The Heat and Butler should just continue on this season as business as usual. Heat is 17-15 6th in the Eastern Conference. What’s the problem?
OK Pat
his “joy” is a paycheck… which coming from him.. is pathetic. He wants a max extension and he’s acting like a child because he didn’t get it…. from they guy who once destroyed a t-wolves practice because he thought everyone there was soft and cared more about themselves than the team… THIS IS PATHETIC AND LEGACY DESTROYING
Money is always the problem with fans…..
Pray your kid has talent so you stop crying.
It’s not the money I have an issue with.. it’s the hypocrisy going against everything this man has said about who an athlete should be for the last 15 years
Actually Bulls could facilitate something involving Lavine, MIA and another team that is capped, Bulls have 2 trade exception slots that should be sold for picks, allowing the other teams to make room for a trade. If they are smart maybe Bulls can even get rid of a couple vets in the process.
Lots of valuation and trade issues come with acquiring Butler. But he’s a potential difference maker on the court THIS playoff season. Probably the only player who’s likely to be available prior to the deadline that fits that description.
So, I think there almost has to be some interest, even if its not apparent right now where that interest will come from. MIA’s problem is that such interest will almost certainly come from a team(s) in win-now mode (which wants to add Butler to its core, not swap him for members of that core) and MIA is in win-now mode (ideally looking for someone to replace Butler in their core). So, not natural trade partners, unless it’s a true 3 or 4 team trade.
Is he even playing at this point?
Who would want him now? He is expensive, overrated at this point and does not play a regular season.
Jimmy is staying with the Heat bc no team, outside of the Lakers, are dumb enough to trade for him.
WNBA- his joy in his direct deposit.
What’s crazy is just how good he’s been playing this year (last 2 games aside). He has a 23 PER and amazing metrics across the board. He has a lot left to give I think.
Send him to the Lakers. I’d enjoy seeing that train wreck.
He is 35. He’s pretty much done. If not now then soon. No real story here. For any team chasing any of these aging superstars it is buyer beware.
#FreeJimmy