Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler didn't have any deep insights into where thing stand between him and the Miami Heat as he made his return to the lineup on Friday after serving a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

Speaking to reporters after Miami's 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets, Butler said "we are where we are" when discussing his relationship with the Heat right now.

"I guess it's basketball at this point," Butler explained. "I know what I'm expected to do while I'm here and try to do that to the best of my ability, but we are where we are."

There doesn't appear to have been any change in Butler's desire for a trade, based on his comments. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Butler "reiterated" his trade stance in a recent face-to-face meeting with Heat president Pat Riley.

The Heat announced on Jan. 3 that Butler was being suspended seven games "for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."

Also in that announcement, the Heat said they "will listen to offers" for teams interested in trading for Butler.

While nothing seems imminent on the trade front, the Milwaukee Bucks have recently popped up as a potential landing spot for Butler. The Athletic's Sam Amick reported on Wednesday no one from Butler's camp has said he doesn't want to play for the Bucks.

Butler's return didn't provide much of a boost for the Heat. He did score 18 points, matching his combined total from the previous three games he played, but the flow of the offense was lacking.

Per Second Spectrum (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps), Butler had his second-fewest dribbles per touch in a game this season (1.6) and lowest average touch length (2.75 seconds) in any game since joining the Heat.

The Heat have lost three straight and six of their last nine games since Jan. 2. Their 20-20 record ranks ninth in the Eastern Conference. They have nine games remaining until the trade deadline.

Butler has played just three games since Dec. 21. The Heat have lost their last two games with him in the lineup by a combined 33 points.

Despite Jimmy Butler's return, the Miami Heat were unable to take down the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

Miami ended up falling to Denver by the final score of 133-113.

That's all from this one. pic.twitter.com/EPshbRjSzH

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 18, 2025

The Nuggets opened the game with a 19-8 lead and never looked back, as they didn't trail for the remainder of the contest.

Butler made his first appearance since Jan. 2 after wrapping up a seven-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the team" that followed a request to be traded.

The six-time All-Star finished with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists while shooting 7-15 from the field. Butler missed both of his three-point attempts. He also failed to record a steal or a block for the seventh time this season.

Jimmy Butler has ARRIVED 💥 pic.twitter.com/eAclzw86Jw

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 18, 2025

Fans weren't impressed with the performance from Butler and the Heat.

Pat Riley forcing Jimmy Butler to be a Heat is doing nothing but messing with the chemistry in the locker room!!! Just trade the man. My God

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 18, 2025

Not sure what I’ll take away from this game other than Nuggets have the Heat’s number. It’s dominance.

As for Jimmy’s return, he had his moments. I think every second he’s on the court will probably get overanalyzed. Jimmy, Bam and Tyler combine for 56 Defense was oooof.

— Will Manso (@WillManso) January 18, 2025

Jimmy Butler's first half: 8 points, no rebounds, no assists, no fouls, no blocks, no steals, no interest at all in being out there.

— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) January 18, 2025

Idk that I've ever seen Jimmy Butler set this many screens.

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) January 18, 2025

https://twitter.com/Flizdesign/status/1880447448348520502

That boy jimmy butler still going through the motions lmaoo

— Sramirez (@SEBASTI98352775) January 18, 2025

Is Jimmy Butler even trying in this game?

— JayHoops (@Jayhooptalk) January 18, 2025

Three-point shooting was the difference in the game, as Denver connected on 48.5 percent of its attempts from behind the arc. Meanwhile, the Heat hit just 27.3 percent of their long-range shots.

For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokić finished with a triple-double. He recorded 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while shooting 9-12 from the field.

The Heat fell to No. 9 in the Eastern Conference standings with a 20-20 record, while Denver holds the No. 4 spot in the West at 25-16.

Jimmy Butler has returned.

On Friday night, Butler will be coming back from a seven-game suspension that occurred shortly after he indicated that he wanted to be traded from the Miami Heat.

Butler's agent paid homage to Michael Jordan's iconic fax in a post on social media.

For immediate release… pic.twitter.com/GiQ3Gr4URy

— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) January 17, 2025

Heat forward Kevin Love also gave his reaction to the news.

👀

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 17, 2025

Butler will be in Miami's starting lineup for a clash with the Denver Nuggets, with tipoff at 8 p.m. ET.

The Heat announced that the 35-year-old was suspended for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team."

The move occurred just after Butler told reporters that he wanted to get his happiness back on the court.

"I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball," Butler said on Jan. 2. "Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon."

ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported that an "issue" that led to the six-time All-Star's decision was an implication from team officials that he didn't play his hardest throughout a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 1.

Butler started 22 games to open his 2024-25 campaign prior to the suspension, averaging 17.6 points and 5.5 rebounds to go along with 4.7 assists per game. He shot 55.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc.

His trade value may not change much with one game considering his status as a two-way star that rises to the occasion in the playoffs, but performing at an elite level following his return could speed up the trade process and entice a potential suitor to make a move.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Phoenix Suns are among the teams interested in acquiring Butler, and one league source revealed that the Suns "want him bad."

As the Heat look to stop a brief two-game losing streak, Butler could be attempting to make a statement in his return as the Feb. 6 trade deadline draws closer.

Jimmy Butler could be back in the Miami Heat's starting lineup two weeks after the team announced they plan to listen to trade offers for him.

Butler is expected to start Friday night against the Denver Nuggets in his first game back from a seven-game team suspension, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will make his return tonight against Denver Nuggets after serving 7-game suspension and he’s expected to be in the starting lineup, sources tell @ChrisBHaynes. pic.twitter.com/fRpVaiEvGH

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 17, 2025

Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, followed up the report by releasing a statement from Butler:

For immediate release… pic.twitter.com/GiQ3Gr4URy

— Bernard Lee (@BernieoLee) January 17, 2025

The Heat suspended Butler "for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" the day after he told reporters he didn't know if he could be happy playing in Miami.

Butler has since told the team he wishes to be traded by the Feb. 6 deadline, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania reported that Butler said in a meeting with Heat president Pat Riley that he will not use his 2025-26 player option or re-sign in Miami.

Despite that pressure, Riley "has not shown an urgency" as of Tuesday when talking with other teams about potential trades for Butler, according to Charania.

Riley originally said in a Dec. 26 statement that his team was "not trading Jimmy Butler," but was forced to pivot following Butler's comments and a Jan. 2 report by Charania and Brian Windhorst that he had "indicated" he wanted a trade.

When announced Butler's suspension on Jan. 3, the Heat said in a statement that Butler had shown "he no longer wants to be part of this team."

Despite that statement and the suspension, which is set to cost Butler $2.35 million and will reportedly be contested by the NBPA, it looks like he is on course to re-join the lineup.

The focus on his return will test the concentration of the Heat. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said after Butler's suspension that his goal was to "quiet all the distractions, and Tyler Herro recently commented on the "chaos" surrounding the Heat at home.

Herro has averaged 25.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during Butler's suspension. The Heat will look for him to continue to step up even with Butler back on the court the team works to end a two-game losing skid against Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets.

As Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat navigate what has been an awkward partnership so far this season, details about the extent to which the team broke from their traditional rules for the six-time All-Star in the past are starting to come out.

Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Heat gave Butler permission to fly privately or stay at different locations away from the team on road trips, including one instance in which he set up camp at a mansion 30 miles from the team hotel during the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets.

"That is not common at all," one Western Conference general manager told Shelburne. "A superstar might stay at a different hotel but not at a mansion 30 miles away."

Shelburne noted another way the Heat gave leeway to Butler included hiring his personal trainer onto their staff, which is described as a "common practice" for superstar players on other teams but not Miami.

One Heat source told Shelburne they "let Jimmy do more than we ever let LeBron or DWade or (Alonzo Mourning) do."

According to Shelburne, the Heat's reasoning for relaxing some of their methods for Butler dates back to the summer of 2014 after LeBron James went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They gave Chris Bosh a five-year extension, but used some of their remaining money to fill out other holes on the roster. This left Dwyane Wade to take a two-year, $31.1 million contract, even though his value at that point was still significantly higher than that.

Wade wound up leaving in the summer of 2016 after the two sides couldn't come to terms on a new deal.

One source close to Butler told Shelburne they "said all the time that DWade died so that [Jimmy] could live" with the Heat. Miami wound up acquiring Butler in a sign-and-trade deal in July 2019.

The partnership has been mutually beneficial, with Butler being the best player for most of his six seasons in Miami. The Heat have reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times and played in the NBA Finals twice since the 2019-20 season.

Butler, who is set to return from a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team on Friday against the Nuggets, remains steadfast in his desire to be traded away from Miami before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

The Heat are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-19 record. Butler is averaging 17.6 points on 55.2 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 starts this season.

The Miami Heat reportedly aren't displaying a sense of urgency in Jimmy Butler trade discussions.

Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported that Miami is not in a rush to trade Butler and that the team is "conducting business" with that perspective despite the point guard's trade request.

"The Heat don't have to make a deal with Jimmy until the summer and don't have to make a decision about the rest of this season until Feb. 6," an executive told Windhorst and Bontemps. "They don't need to do anything in January and that's how they're conducting business."

Butler has served a seven-game suspension issued by the Heat for "conduct detrimental to the team." He returned to the team on Thursday and is expected to play for the first time since the suspension on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets.

In Butler's absence, Miami went 3-4. The team is 20-19 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Butler's presence should help considering he's averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 games in 2024-25.

His contract is set to expire following the 2024-25 season but he has reportedly told the Heat that he would utilize his player option "as a trade maneuver" in the offseason and that he doesn't intend to re-sign with the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Heat could sell him off as a short-term rental at the Feb. 6 trade deadline but also could opt to benefit from Butler's play for the remainder of the season and recoup serious cap space this summer if he walks in free agency.

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is eligible to return from his seven-game suspension Friday against the Denver Nuggets, but some within the organization reportedly aren't looking forward to that possibility.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, one source close to the team said, "I don't know how he can come back to this locker room," and another added, "We don't want him back."

The Heat announced Butler's suspension two weeks ago, citing "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team." The team also noted that it would listen to trade offers involving the 35-year-old veteran.

Miami's decision to suspend Butler came after he publicly expressed his unhappiness playing for the Heat, telling reporters:

"I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon. I'm happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I'm not doing it."

However, there were reportedly multiple instances that led up to the suspension, including some of Butler's antics on social media.

Per Shelburne, Butler posted a video of himself playing soccer with Manchester United's Paul Pogba during the Heat's Dec. 26 game against the Orlando Magic, which Butler missed due to an illness.

Three days later, when Butler was listed as out against the Houston Rockets due to reconditioning, he posted video of himself playing dominoes in the locker room.

Team officials reportedly viewed the posts as "an affront, an attempt to make the situation more uncomfortable," and things truly came to a head when he rejoined the team after missing five games and had "a very poor attitude," per a team official.

A source close to Butler told Shelburne, "Jimmy hasn't even really started," suggesting that he could make things more uncomfortable if he wants.

Butler's issues with the Heat have reportedly been bubbling for quite some time as well, dating back to when team president Pat Riley informed Bam Adebayo prior to the 2023-24 season that he would take over for Udonis Haslem as the team's captain.

Sources close to Butler told Shelburne that he "wasn't upset" by the choice, but did view it as validation that the Heat viewed Adebayo and Tyler Herro as the future of the franchise.

Those same sources indicated that Butler also came to believe that the Heat started to phase him out on the court in favor of Adebayo and Herro.

Butler is a six-time All-Star and 14-year veteran who has twice led the Heat to the NBA Finals during his six-year tenure with the team.

His production has clearly taken a hit this season, though, as his 17.6 points per game represent his lowest scoring average since the 2013-14 season.

Butler is still the Heat's second-leading scorer, but Herro has clearly become the go-to guy offensively, averaging a team-leading 24.3 points per contest.

Miami's inner turmoil has not yielded great results on the court, as the Heat are only eighth in the Eastern Conference with a 20-19 record despite their depth and talent.

Trading a player of Butler's caliber may not necessarily make the Heat a better team, but it could potentially create a more harmonious environment, which may be the best argument for doing it.

Until then, Butler is still on the roster, and he is free and clear to return against the Nuggets if the Heat want to allow him to play.

The Miami Heat announced Thursday that their hugely popular "Original Vice" uniforms are returning this season, starting with Friday's home game against the Denver Nuggets.

Miami's entire roster sported the unis in a special reveal video, while Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez modeled them in a post on X:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkp9Hparm9k

Often imitated, never duplicated. #TheOriginalVice is back and on sale NOW - https://t.co/5cGP0wAVNG pic.twitter.com/q5BpsXhGSr

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 16, 2025

The Heat debuted the Vice uniforms during the 2017-18 season and wore versions of it for the next few years, but they had been shelved since the 2020-21 season until now.

The revived uniforms are being called "Original Vice" since they are the same ones debuted by the Heat in 2017. The uniforms are white with blue and pink accents, which is reminiscent of the colors utilized in the logo of the Miami Vice television show in the 1980s.

Subsequent Vice uniforms worn by the Heat included black, blue and pink versions, but the all-white edition has not been worn since the 2017-18 campaign.

The Original Vice unis will replace the Heat's traditional "Association" white uniforms for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

It is common for a team's star players to show off new uniforms, but Butler's inclusion in the promotional material is interesting given his standing with the franchise.

The Heat announced earlier this month that they suspended Butler seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team," and added that they would listen to trade offers for him.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported this week that Butler reiterated his desire to be traded during a meeting with team president Pat Riley.

Butler has not appeared in a game since Jan. 2, and it is possible he has already played his final game as a member of the Heat.

Miami has performed below expectations this season with a 20-19 record, placing the team in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

While the Heat are five games clear of the 11th-place Philadelphia 76ers for a spot in the postseason play-in tournament, they could be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Things could potentially get worse if the Heat don't find a suitable replacement for Butler by the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but the Heat may have bought themselves some goodwill with their fans with the return of the Original Vice unis.

The Miami Heat weighed whether to change the designation for the suspension they issued to disgruntled star Jimmy Butler, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

The Heat suspended Butler for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team. Haynes reported they considered changing the reason for the ban to "refusing to provide services." The latter would've resulted in the fines doubling for the six-time All-Star.

Sources: Inside Miami considering changing designation of Jimmy Butler’s suspension to a stiffer, more expensive penalty. #haynesbriefs https://t.co/AixmhuvbwY pic.twitter.com/oCbQcUIBIb

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 15, 2025

While the team didn't take that step, the fact it was even pondered raises questions over whether the relationship between Butler and the Heat has deteriorated more than anybody realizes.

A "refusing to provide services" designation sounds pretty self-explanatory.

Butler's effort on the court prior to his suspension had drawn some criticism. He was out for five games in December due to an undisclosed illness. Upon returning to the court, he scored 18 combined points on 6-of-11 shooting over two games.

Following a 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 2, the 35-year-old said he had lost his "joy" from playing basketball.

By escalating the terms of his suspension, Miami would've indicated that Butler was outright refusing to practice and/or suit up for games and that the team had evidence corroborating that point.

The Philadelphia 76ers took this step with Ben Simmons during the 2021-22 season when he no-showed games in addition to practices and team meetings.

Haynes reported Tuesday on The Dan LeBatard Show that Butler "is fully prepared to return to play for the Heat if he is not moved by the time his suspension is lifted," and he really doesn't have much other choice.

Refusing to play would risk forfeiting even more of his 2024-25 earnings and it would make a team even less inclined to trade for him.

Butler's value isn't where it was in 2018, when his combative attitude toward the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't preclude him from getting a desired move to the Philadelphia 76ers. If the offers sent to Miami weren't good to begin with, then they aren't going to get better when he's not on the court at all.

"Jimmy Butler isn't going to extend with any team. And so, because teams know that, they're offering the Heat right now the poo-poo platter. There's only one team that is ready to pay Jimmy Butler exactly what he wants, and that's the Phoenix Suns."

—@WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/q8LZLPOFOV

— First Take (@FirstTake) January 7, 2025

But it will be fascinating to see Butler's level of engagement if he's still on the Heat through the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday the player chose to request a trade because he was frustrated with "an implication from team officials that he hadn't played his hardest in the Heat's victory over the Pelicans on New Year's Day." That seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

Butler will presumably be even more upset with the Heat floating the idea he might've been withholding his services entirely.

Miami Heat star forward Jimmy Butler was reportedly upset at the team's front office for not being more aggressive in improving the team's roster, per James Jackson of The Athletic.

"But frustrations over other contenders being more aggressive — the defending Boston Celtics acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard — have left Butler disappointed with the Heat seemingly not being as ambitious the source said. Last year seemed to mark a crucial pivot point, as Miami brought in Thomas Bryant and Josh Richardson to bolster its roster, which left Butler feeling he had to 'do the impossible again,' the source said."

On Jan. 3, the Heat suspended Butler seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."

In addition, Miami revealed that Butler and his agent issued a trade request. The Heat also stated they were listening to trade offers.

The seventh and final game of Butler's suspension is set for Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers. He's eligible to return to the team on Friday at home versus the Denver Nuggets. The trade deadline is Feb. 6.

Butler reiterated his desire for a trade in a conversation with team president Pat Riley last week, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

At the moment, Butler is on an expiring contract, but he has a $52 million player option for 2025-26. He only plans to use that option as a "trade maneuver," per Charania.

Butler, a 14-year NBA veteran, is a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player. The 35-year-old has averaged 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists

He signed with Miami before the 2019-20 season and has been tremendous for the team, leading the Heat to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances (two Eastern Conference titles in 2020 and 2023).

However, it's clear his time in Miami is up. He previously said in a chat with reporters that he probably would be unable to find his joy playing basketball again in Miami. It's unclear why that is, although he apparently wasn't happy that the team didn't make a greater effort to improve the roster around him while other Eastern Conference powers did so.

At any rate, Miami is now 20-18, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Heat look like a fringe 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 with Butler, although his future still remains in limbo as his suspension is set to end.