The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler indefinitely

[BBallFreak]

c) Deal with it in the summer.

Look back at the history. Look back at his diva persona. Look at how it’s ended with previous stars.

Do not think that just entering a season with no contract and playing this precarious game is gonna work. Yeah, it’s stupid. You Heat fans are so far up Riley’s ass with his “culture” BS you can’t even see how much he’s bungled this situation. This halfway stuff never works.

Are you even aware of what you're saying?

Jimmy Butler is making $49 million this season and has a player option for $52 million next year. I don't know about you, but for $101 million, I'd feel pretty obligated to give my best.

And Riley didn't say, "I won't pay you." He said be available for more games and I'll pay you.

The revisionist history here is astounding!

You have to act early in the NBA. He didn’t and is now paying the price.

No, he was trying to motivate Jimmy to play in more than 60 games this year. He wasn't trying to piss him off.

Riley called Tyler Herro soft in the same interview and Herro took it as a challenge, as it was meant to be. Massive difference!

Riley wasn't trying to do anything but challenge Jimmy Butler. Jimmy of course took it the wrong way. Does Riley deserve some blame? Of course, he miscalculated! But make no mistake, it was all about motivating Jimmy.

[Celts17Pride]

On a higher level, this is what's wrong with the NBA. Entitled star players.

[phanman]

He has left every single team on bad terms, wow.

I keep seeing this make the rounds, but outside of Minnesota it's just not true.

- The Bulls chose to start their rebuild after losing in the first round again w/ the Wade & Rondo core. If Rajon never gets hurt vs Boston, they probably pull the upset afters stealing two games in Boston. he never demanded out. Sure he had a ton of criticism for Thibs' replacement in Fred Hoiberg, but he was underwhelming as a pro and had to go back college after lasting only one more year after the trade.
&
- With Philly, they opted not to give him the max contract he got from Miami. I believe the rumblings that Ben wasn't happy that the ball was taken out of his hands and the team prioritized keeping Simmons happy over Jimmy. He had a great relationship with Joel and both sides were pretty angry that he wasn't resigned.

The amount of posts saying just trade him is comical. If there was a decent deal on the table that didn't involve them taking on 2 more years of Beal after this season with his NTC, he would be gone by now. Do guys not realize that they've been shopping him since December? The team doesn't want to take on any long term contracts and they aren't just going to give him away when they can easily force him into opting out this summer and be a player in free agency.

[JustBuzzin]

I don't understand how this is embarrassing on the Heat's part. Like why would they rush a trade when they don't have to, especailly if they can keep him away with suspensions like this?

Suspending him on and off is just killing his trade value. Had they suspended him indefinitely from the start maybe better offers would have come.

Right now this dude is looking like a nutcase and the more stories coming out is just scaring off the potential teams who would gamble on him.

His trade value isn't changing at all based of this suspension or the last. Teams know what it is, and what they're getting into with him.
Also they couldn't suspend him indefinitely from the jump because at the time Jimmy didn't do anything warranted for an indefinite suspension.

And your second part is also what teams have known about JB.

What was Riley thought process when a known hothead wanted a extension and he declined.

Did he seriously think Jimmy was gonna give it his all for a team that declined to extend his contract. A good GM would have traded him before the season. My thing is everyone is blaming Jimmy. Sure he deserves most of the blame, but your GM also deserves some blame for letting it get this far. Riley forgot Jimmy can be a nutcase now he has to deal with a player who killed his trade value and only has 1 team on his list. Good luck getting another team to trade anything of value for that.

[SkyBill40]

Bulls-era Butler was just so damn fun to root for. He was my avatar here for a couple years. His eccentricity - a polite way for me to say that he's an unrepentant, team-ruining arrogant prick - makes him so thoroughly unlikable now. I know he wants his max extension more than anything, but his legacy will be "ringless prima donna".

I mean two things can be true simultaneously:

1) Butler is highly underrated and what he did leading a pretty average Heat roster to the finals 2 times in the last 5 years is just unbelievable. His 2020 and 2023 playoff runs are legendary and he knocked out some great teams with incredible performances.

2) He's also an insufferable prick who lacks professionalism.

[davidv2001]

This is getting ridiculous on both sides. Just trade him already. Riley trying to get legit impact players in return for an old disgruntled player on an expiring contract when everyone knows the situation is ridiculous

And make no mistake I'm not defending Butler - he's a tool and a clown. But his value is only plummeting by the day. This is not a 29 year old Butler. Riley needs to cut his losses already

Riley should trade Butler to Memphis for the package of expirings they are willing to offer and let Butler’s camp deal with the extension problem.

[davidv2001]

Jimmy isn’t perfect but starting Haywood Highsmith over him is incredibly petty too.

That’s what happens when you screw over your teammates and coaches by intentionally dogging it on the court in recent games. Players understand the NBA is a business, but they don’t take kindly to anyone actively sabotaging their chance to win games.

[reload141]

Interesting that Kevin Love seems to be on Team Jimmy too……

[BigGargamel]

LOL what a nightmare. This is my weekly reminder that I'm truly blessed to have someone like Nikola Jokic on my favorite team. I'll never have to see anything like this from my boys.

[Ambrose]

Because that team is willing to pay him his money. This is all about money for Jimmy. The Heat should have seen this coming the moment they declined to give him the money.

Know your players Riley. Should have traded him in the off-season. Jimmy came into camp ready to cause drama now the Heat have to deal with the consequences.


I'm not defending Jimmy im just saying they should have addressed this way earlier. Dragging this nonsense into the middle of the season was just asking for trouble.

Riley thought he could get 1 more year out of Jimmy in the Heat culture. He forgot Jimmy blows up teams on his time. Deal with it.

Hindsight is 20/20. The Miami Heat have no obligation to give Jimmy what he wants to the detriment of their team.

That's true. Now deal with the nonsense that comes with Jimmy.

Don't ask for sympathy when you know what a unhappy Jimmy Butler brings. They could have traded him the moment they declined to give him an extension. Now we have a big circus and Miami is pretty much stuck with him or trading him for little value.

But Riley can do know wrong ehh...

No one wants sympathy for the Heat.

[AmusingFiddle]

I don't understand how this is embarrassing on the Heat's part. Like why would they rush a trade when they don't have to, especailly if they can keep him away with suspensions like this?

Suspending him on and off is just killing his trade value. Had they suspended him indefinitely from the start maybe better offers would have come.

Right now this dude is looking like a nutcase and the more stories coming out is just scaring off the potential teams who would gamble on him.

His trade value isn't changing at all based of this suspension or the last. Teams know what it is, and what they're getting into with him.
Also they couldn't suspend him indefinitely from the jump because at the time Jimmy didn't do anything warranted for an indefinite suspension.

And your second part is also what teams have known about JB.

His trade value may have not "tanked" but the market will NOT pay his trade value. The Heat are in a precarious situation and have little/no leverage. Butler holds a PO for next year which makes it more difficult. What team will trade for him with decent assets only to lose him next year.

Pat has to trade him and get some players back (not going to be unprotected FRPs and serviceable young prospects). They need to move quick. Most likely will have to take some salary back beyond this year and next. If the Heat miss the playoffs this year they stand to lose their 2025 FRP.

[bisme37]

The lineup change would have come from Spo, not Riley. Jimmy's play has been not good throughout this drama, and he's leaving, so they are thinking about both the present and the future and giving those minutes to Highsmith.

[AmusingFiddle]

This is getting ridiculous on both sides. Just trade him already. Riley trying to get legit impact players in return for an old disgruntled player on an expiring contract when everyone knows the situation is ridiculous

And make no mistake I'm not defending Butler - he's a tool and a clown. But his value is only plummeting by the day. This is not a 29 year old Butler. Riley needs to cut his losses already

Riley should trade Butler to Memphis for the package of expirings they are willing to offer and let Butler’s camp deal with the extension problem.

You are assuming Pat holds the cards here. Butler, because of his PO next year, can dictate where he goes. Especially, if the team is trading decent assets. No team will trade for him knowing he can bolt next year. Memphis is not taking that risk nor is any other team.

Which is why the Heat will have to take back longer term salary.

[Ambrose]

This is getting ridiculous on both sides. Just trade him already. Riley trying to get legit impact players in return for an old disgruntled player on an expiring contract when everyone knows the situation is ridiculous

And make no mistake I'm not defending Butler - he's a tool and a clown. But his value is only plummeting by the day. This is not a 29 year old Butler. Riley needs to cut his losses already

Riley should trade Butler to Memphis for the package of expirings they are willing to offer and let Butler’s camp deal with the extension problem.

You are assuming Pat holds the cards here. Butler, because of his PO next year, can dictate where he goes. Especially, if the team is trading decent assets. No team will trade for him knowing he can bolt next year. Memphis is not taking that risk nor is any other team.

Which is why the Heat will have to take back longer term salary.

It's not remotely realistic that he opts in only to do this all again next season. It's an empty threat and should be treated as such.

[DusterBuster]

Genuinely couldn’t be enjoying this **** show more. Running out of popcorn.

[Snakebites]

Just trade him already........

Need a good offer first....

I’m sure suspending him will help those awesome offers to start rolling in.

[JujitsuFlip]

Jimmy isn’t perfect but starting Haywood Highsmith over him is incredibly petty too.

Haywood is average at best, but he gives effort. Jimmy taking one legged 3s and refusing to play defense or hustle is why his ass can sit down for Haywood.

Well, they got criticized for starting him right away last time back from his suspension, so were gonna pull a page from the Bulls playbook and bring him off the bench.

[reload141]

Genuinely couldn’t be enjoying this **** show more. Running out of popcorn.

It’s simply amazing. And to think we have multiple days before the trade deadline to watch it unfold.

[Chuck Everett]

Jimmy isn’t perfect but starting Haywood Highsmith over him is incredibly petty too.

If he's not going to play hard, it's not that surprising. He has been dogging it when he's out there. The amount of knots people want to tie themselves in, when a guy is getting paid 48 million dollars is bizarre. Asking you to just be a professional and play hard when you're out there isn't asking much.

[QPR]

Jimmy isn’t perfect but starting Haywood Highsmith over him is incredibly petty too.

At least Haywood will play hard.