Jimmy Butler returned to action Friday night after serving a team-imposed seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. He scored 18-points and the Heat kind of played lifeless losing to the Nuggets by 20.
There’s been some talk about the contract, but really this is Jimmy Butler vs the Miami Heat decision makers, Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra. It seems like it’s more Jimmy vs Spo at this point.
How do you win a battle against the 17-year head coach of the Heat who’s been with the organization for the last 28 years?
You probably don’t. Jimmy wants out. The Heat just can’t find a trade partner for Jimmy and his $48,798,677 salary, which escalates upon Jimmy’s wish to $52 million via a player option in ’25-26. Jimmy Butler has career earnings of $310 million. It’s not about the money.
Before Friday night’s game vs Denver Spoelstra old the media that the situation is complex and unusual but he’s ready for it.
Translation, they couldn’t trade Jimmy, and this is not fun.
Erik Spoelstra has opening statement, says that Jimmy Butler will be in starting lineup.
“We work in a league of complexity, we’re in an unusual place right now, but really all it is, is complex…you all are looking for drama, I’m looking to get this team ready…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/cYe3fEhs58
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 17, 2025
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports that the seven game suspension was planned to coincide with the Heat’s six game road trip. Presumably, so Spoelstra and the team could get as far as away from Jimmy Butler as possible.
The point of timing the seven-game suspension with the six-game road trip, team sources said, was to create space for the team to get out of Miami and away from the chaos the situation had created, while Butler, Heat president Pat Riley and Heat owner Micky Arison met to talk through their differences.
Shelburne goes on to report that the issues have to do with Butler’s diminishing role behind Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro and Butler’s desire for a new contract.
Spoelstra is doing what he has to do, play Jimmy Butler for the sake of peace, and to build up some semblance of trade value.
The Heat do not seem close to finding a trade partner for the 35-year-old. The only team that keeps coming up is Phoenix, but that seems media or fan-driven. Is Butler a fixer for the struggling play-in game Suns (20-20 10th place in the West), or just another headache? Butler paired with Kevin Durant..?
A true mess in Miami, one that the Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra would surely like to rid themselves of quickly.
