All-Star forward Jimmy Butler was suspended by his Miami Heat team for seven games on Friday due to his conduct deemed “harmful» to the Florida franchise, which also indicated that it would now study possible exchange offers.
Butler explained Thursday after a home defeat against the Indiana Pacers (128-115) that he had lost the pleasure of playing in the NBA and that he was “not going toprobably not» find him while remaining under contract with the Heat.
Arriving in the summer of 2019 in Miami, the 35-year-old greatly contributed to leading his team to the NBA finals in 2020 and 2023, respectively lost to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets.
Miami hopes for a trade
«We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games due to his behavior detrimental to the team during the season and particularly in recent weeks“, the Heat said in a statement. “Through his actions and statements, he showed that he no longer wanted to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his rep have indicated they are interested in being traded, so we will listen to offers», specifies the text.
Butler, who scored only nine points in 27 minutes in Thursday’s loss to Indiana, will not return to the court before the Jan. 17 home game against Denver, thus missing Saturday’s home game against Utah and a six-game tour on the West Coast. It is entirely possible that the Heat will have reached an exchange agreement with another team for its star, who is playing his 15th season in the NBA. “I want to rediscover my joy of playing basketball. Wherever it is, we will know very quickly“Butler said Thursday.
The former Bulls player is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season for the Heat, who sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-15 record. defeats.
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