NBA
Why has Miami Heat small forward Jimmy Butler been suspended for seven games?
The Heat have announced that they are suspending Butler and will listen to offers to trade the six-time All-Star.
The Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games and stated their intention to trade the six-time All-Star, over what the NBA franchise has described as “conduct detrimental to the team”.
The move comes against the backdrop of an apparently season-long deterioration in the relationship between the player and the franchise.
Butler “has shown he no longer wants to be part of team”
In a statement on Friday, the Heat said: “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.
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
Butler out to rediscover basketball “joy”
Miami announced their decision to suspend Butler a day after he indicated publicly that his future lies elsewhere, telling reporters that he wants to “get my joy back”.
“What do I want to see happen?” Butler said after the Heat’s 128-115 defeat to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, per AP. “I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be. We’ll find out here pretty soon. 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.” The 35-year-old added that he would “probably not” be able to rediscover his joy for basketball in Miami.
In the wake of Butler’s remarks, ESPN revealed on Thursday that the player had told the Heat of his desire to leave.
No Butler trade, Heat chief said recently
Late last month, Miami team president Pat Riley had responded to speculation over Butler’s future by insisting that the Houston native would not be traded.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement on December 26. “Therefore, we will make it clear - We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
When could Butler return for Heat?
Butler can appeal the Heat’s decision to suspend him. In a statement, the National Basketball Players Association described the punishment given to the former Bulls, Timberwolves and 76ers star as “excessive and inappropriate”.
Although it appears that Butler has played his last game for the Heat, the earliest he could return to action for the Heat would be the January 17 matchup with the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center.
In his six years with Miami, Butler has helped the Florida team to two NBA Finals appearances, as well as one Conference Finals. He has averaged 21.1 points, 5.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds during his Heat career.
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