TRADE LOOMS: Miami slaps Jimmy Butler with 7-game suspension

Sports

THE days of Jimmy Butler with the Miami Heat may now be numbered.

The Heat have announced that the veteran forward was suspended for seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”

Aside from the suspension, the Heat are also willing to grant the request of Butler for him to be traded.

"Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team," a statement released by the Heat on Friday night (Saturday in the Philippines) said. "Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."

Butler had made it known that he no longer wants to play with the Heat.

After scoring just nine points in a 115-118 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Butler was blunt enough to say that he wants to play elsewhere.

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

The suspension will cost Butler $336,543 for each game missed, or a total of $2.35 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

Butler, who is in the last guaranteed year of his contract and has a player option worth more than $52 million for next season, joined the Heat in July 2019 in a sign and trade with the Philadelphia Sixers.

Butler was the Chicago Bulls’ 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. From the Bulls, Butler went to the Minnesota Timberwolves then to Philadelphia and Miami.

Butler has played 22 games this season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 30.8 minutes of playing time a night.

The Heat are currently sit at sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 17-15 record.(CCM)