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Jimmy Butler will be expected to play for the Miami Heat again following his seven-game suspension if he is not traded by then, a source tells the Miami Herald. Butler will be eligible to play again when the Heat return from their six-game road trip to play the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 17. Miami isn't interested in letting Butler remain away from the team while paying him the remainder of his salary.

The Heat are listening to trade offers on Butler, but finding a workable deal will be challenging for the team. Butler is on a $48.8 million salary for the season with a player option for 25-26 at $52.4 million. Miami could ultimately find it more appealing to let the Butler situation go into the offseason when he can decide upon his option and possibly trade him then, or participate in a sign-and-trade. 

Butler has been disappointed with the Heat primarily because Miami declined to give him a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer.

Butler's seven-game suspension will cost him approximately $2.4 million. The NBPA will file a grievance to dispute the suspension and could go to arbitration. 

Via Anthony Chiang/Miami Herald

Good luck with that, Riley and Spo.

rand wrote:Good luck with that, Riley and Spo.

Jimmy's only hope for getting another big contract is to show that he's still an all NBA caliber player. He can't do that from his couch or while intentionally sucking.

What was he suspended for?

Barcs wrote:What was he suspended for?

For quitting on the team during a game and making those comments he made afterwards

In any other profession, imagine purposely sucking at your job to force your way. They would get immediately fired. I feel that teams should have a say in cutting players salaries if they behave like this. If you are still getting paid, bring your A-game and act professionally. NBA players today are spoiled brats.

thesaint9 wrote:In any other profession, imagine purposely sucking at your job to force your way. They would get immediately fired. I feel that teams should have a say in cutting players salaries if they behave like this. If you are still getting paid, bring your A-game and act professionally. NBA players today are spoiled brats.

Apples and oranges.

NBA players can't be compared to 9 to 5 jobs. Do fans pay money to go to someone's office job to watch them slave away at their computer? Are they buying your office jersey? Is there a media ecosystem around the chance that you might quit your job and become a free agent and switch to a different company? Nope. No one cares.

Whereas Jimmy Butler is the product. The players are the product. The game is the product. They have (and should have) way more power and leverage vs where they decide to work than the average joe. Also, if teams and owners can trade a player or not resign a player and not think twice "for the best interest of the team," then why can't a player act in his own interests as well?

thesaint9 wrote:In any other profession, imagine purposely sucking at your job to force your way. They would get immediately fired. I feel that teams should have a say in cutting players salaries if they behave like this. If you are still getting paid, bring your A-game and act professionally. NBA players today are spoiled brats.

Or…you could be put on administrative leave, which this technically is. Jobs sometimes can’t just fire you, they have to go through performance improvement plans or some other remediation before letting you go.

rand wrote:Good luck with that, Riley and Spo.

If Butler is healthy and refuses to play, it will just give the team ammo to suspend him without pay again. I take it that's the angle management it taking.