NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler ‘frustrated’ by Heat’s lack of ambition via trades, FA | News, scores, highlights, stats, and rumors
Brennan Asplin/Getty Images
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was reportedly upset in the team’s front office because he wasn’t more aggressive in improving the team’s roster, per James Jackson From the athlete.
But frustration with other contenders being more aggressive — the Boston Celtics’ acquisitions of defensemen Kristaps Porzinis and Jrue Holiday, and the Milwaukee Bucks’ trade for Damian Lillard — has left Butler frustrated that the Heat seemingly weren’t as ambitious as they were, the source said. A critical pivotal point, as Miami brought in Thomas Bryant and Josh Richardson to bolster its roster, left Butler feeling like he had to “do the impossible,” the source said again.
On January 3, heat hanging Butler was charged seven games for “multiple instances of behavior detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last few weeks.”
Additionally, Miami revealed that Butler and his agent have issued a trade request. The Heat also stated that they were listening to trade offers.
The seventh and final game of Butler’s suspension is scheduled for Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers. He is eligible to return to the team Friday at home versus the Denver Nuggets. The trade deadline is February 6.
Butler reiterated his desire to trade in a conversation with team president Pat Riley last week, according to ESPN Shams Al Sharaniya.
Right now, Butler’s contract is expiring, but he has a $52 million player option for 2025-26. He only plans to use this option as a “business maneuver,” according to Charania.
Butler, a 14-year NBA veteran, is a six-time All-Star and five-time NBA All-Star. The 35-year-old is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
He signed with Miami prior to the 2019-20 season and was great for the team, leading the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals three times (two Eastern Conference titles in 2020 and 2023).
However, it is clear that his time in Miami is over. He previously said in a conversation with Reporters That he might never be able to find his happiness playing basketball again in Miami. It’s not clear why, though he was apparently unhappy that the team didn’t try harder to improve the roster around him while other powers in the Eastern Conference did.
Anyway, Miami is now 20-18, sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat look like a marginal playoff team at best, although the Heat have been known to overachieve in the postseason.
If the Heat get there, it doesn’t look like it will be the case with Butler, though his future remains in limbo as his suspension is set to expire.
