Report: Heat suspending Jimmy Butler for 2nd time this month amid trade rumors – Arizona Sports

PHOENIX SUNS
Jan 22, 2025, 3:20 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2025, 7:35 am BY ALEX WEINERDiamondbacks reporter, ArizonaSports.com editorThe Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler for their next two games after he missed the team flight, ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report Wednesday. This is the second time he has been suspended this month.Butler was reportedly planning to join Miami on its two-game road trip in Milwaukee and Brooklyn, but he will instead remain home amid swirling trade rumors.“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today’s team flight to Milwaukee,” the team confirmed in a statement.Butler told the Heat in recent weeks that he wants a trade, a demand he has not made publicly because league rules do not allow players to do so. Any player who makes such a demand known is risking a fine of up to $150,000.But the Heat revealed that request when suspending him in early January for what they called conduct detrimental to the team, and said at that time that they will work to accommodate his trade request.The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 6.Butler was banished for seven games earlier this month, costing him about $2.4 million in salary. Butler returned last week and has played in each of the last three Miami games, averaging 13.0 points in 29.3 minutes.Apparently a timing element was at play with Butler missing Heat flight. Team had canceled practice and flew earlier than previously scheduled.— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) January 22, 2025Can confirm that Jimmy Butler was, indeed, planning to meet the team in Milwaukee tonight and play in all upcoming games. Still, in light of the temperature of the situation, suspension hardly a surprise.— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) January 22, 2025The Heat left for Milwaukee around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. That departure time is earlier than Miami leaves for most of its trips, and it’s unclear if that was a factor for Butler.The dates for the scheduled games on this Heat road trip coincide with a padel tournament in Miami, one that lists Butler as an honorary chairman and co-captain. Butler’s coffee company, Big Face, is also involved with the event. But it was not known if Butler planned on being present for that event in Miami and if that had anything to do with him missing the flight to Milwaukee.Miami suspended Butler for seven games in early January for conduct detrimental to the team after he said he did not think he could find joy playing for the Heat.The suspension surfaces one day after the Phoenix Suns, who have been tied to Butler for over a month as one of his preferred trade destinations, made a trade for more draft picks.The Suns dealt their unprotected 2031 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for three lower-priority first-rounders, giving the front office more flexibility to make deals whether they include Butler or not.A Butler to Phoenix trade would likely include more than two participating teams.The trade deadline is on Feb. 6, and the relationship between Butler and Miami continues to deteriorate after the Heat elected not to extend him last summer.Butler is in the final year of his contract and possesses a $52.4 million player option for next year.The Suns, meanwhile, are at .500 with a 21-21 record heading into Wednesday’s game against the lowly Nets.The Associated Press contributed to this story.Follow @alexjweinerBrandon Cadiz
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Source: https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/jimmy-butler-suspended/3571197/