The Jimmy Butler-Heat saga has taken yet another turn.
Less than 24 hours after he said he would “probably not” have “joy” by continuing to play for the Heat, the team suspended him on Friday for seven games for conduct detrimental to the team.
On top of that, the team is now saying it will listen to trade offers — a little over a week after team president Pat Riley bluntly said Miami had no intentions to send Butler, 35, out of town.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the Heat said in a statement. “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.
“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”
ESPN reported Thursday night — shortly after Butler spoke to reporters after a Miami loss to the Pacers — that he was open to a trade and willing to play anywhere else.
“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement released by the franchise on Dec. 26. “Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
After Thursday’s game, the third this week in which he did not play during the fourth quarter, Butler said he was looking to find “joy” on the basketball court again.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, and wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back somewhere dominant. I want to hoop, and I want to help this team win. Right now I’m not doing that.”
When asked in a follow-up question if that “joy” could be found in Miami, he said, “Probably not.”
The six-time NBA All-Star has averaged 17.6 points and 4.7 assists per game this season.
