The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler indefinitely

[Prez]

I’m sorry but this is all really really funny if you’re not a Heat fan lol. Bless Jimmy for making the January days of the regular season a bit more interesting.

Though I reserve the right to retract my “this is really funny” take if the Bucks get in on this trade somehow and give up their 2031 1st or trade for Beal or something else stupid. That would be exceedingly unfunny.

[Dan Z]

Riley is embarrassing himself.

Just trade him already dude.

How do you know he's not working on it? Some thing take time.

[AmusingFiddle]

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.

I agree to some degree, there is posturing on both sides. Butler likely won't opt out because most teams don't have max $ for 2025 FA. This MIGHT force his hand to stay with the trade partner at least thru next season. Unless a team creates cap room to sign him outright.

Given Butler's history, most knew how he would react to being called out in public. To then add insult to injury not offering him an extension. Pat is an idiot for getting into a dick measuring contest with Butler. Just trade him already for what is avail and not for what you want.

[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.

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.

Butler doesn’t have a no-trade clause, so he does not control anything. The Memphis offer doesn’t contain significant assets. It’s one or two year contracts and maybe one first round pick. If the Grizzlies are still willing to do some version of it, Riley should take it, and the ball then goes in Butler’s court whether he opts in for next season with the Grizzlies or becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Riley’s job is to do what’s best for the Miami Heat not Jimmy Butler.

[Ambrose]

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.

I agree to some degree, there is posturing on both sides. Butler likely won't opt out because most teams don't have max $ for 2025 FA. This MIGHT force his hand to stay with the trade partner at least thru next season. Unless a team creates cap room to sign him outright.

Given Butler's history, most knew how he would react to being called out in public. To then add insult to injury not offering him an extension. Pat is an idiot for getting into a dick measuring contest with Butler. Just trade him already for what is avail and not for what you want.

Riley's an idiot for not giving Butler a terrible contract? What? And to appease this cancer, you're now suggesting they should take on an even worse contract instead? Yeah, no.

[RookieStar]

Just watch.. this will motivate MIA and steamroll my rehabbing Magic.

[azcatz11]

It’s easy for us to be critical of this situation however if you had $100m riding on this you may do the same thing.

[SearsTower]

Not sure what the Heat threshold is for jersey retirement but being the best player on 2 Finals teams would put his name in the conversation, I would think. That's all done now. Burning bridges and pi$$ing away your legacy is rather dumb.

[JujitsuFlip]

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.

Bulls brought him and Wade off the bench because they wouldn't stop publicly dumping on the young guys.

He hated Ben and Brett Brown lol there are tons of stories about how he undermined Brown in his short time there. Yes he loved Joel and still does but Brand not giving him the full max is why he said cya.

Like i said, guy has went out on trash terms on every team. To varying degrees to be sure but he never left anywhere happy and on good terms.

[JujitsuFlip]

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

He's just trying to get traded back to the Cavs, i assume.

[reload141]

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.

Butler doesn’t have a no-trade clause, so he does not control anything. The Memphis offer doesn’t contain significant assets. It’s one or two year contracts and maybe one first round pick. If the Grizzlies are still willing to do some version of it, Riley should take it, and the ball then goes in Butler’s court whether he opts in for next season with the Grizzlies or becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Riley’s job is to do what’s best for the Miami Heat not Jimmy Butler.

Pat should’ve traded him by now. Butlers value will continue to diminish with these antics (which are ridiculous on his part don’t get me wrong)

But because of Pat’s Alpha ego he’s let this go on for far too long now.

If I was a Heat fan I wouldn’t expect much at all except a few expirings and maybe a 1st and 2nd round draft picks

[davidv2001]

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.

Butler doesn’t have a no-trade clause, so he does not control anything. The Memphis offer doesn’t contain significant assets. It’s one or two year contracts and maybe one first round pick. If the Grizzlies are still willing to do some version of it, Riley should take it, and the ball then goes in Butler’s court whether he opts in for next season with the Grizzlies or becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Riley’s job is to do what’s best for the Miami Heat not Jimmy Butler.

Pat should’ve traded him by now. Butlers value will continue to diminish with these antics (which are ridiculous on his part don’t get me wrong)

But because of Pat’s Alpha ego he’s let this go on for far too long now.

If I was a Heat fan I wouldn’t expect much at all except a few expirings and maybe a 1st and 2nd round draft picks

I agree that Riley should have found a suitable trade by now. I think the Memphis offer is that trade and make Butler’s side deal with the extension issue with the Grizzlies.

[Heat3]

Failing to deal with your franchise superstar and allowing the situation to completely hijack and ruin your season is an embarrassment, yes

How would you deal with him?

a) give him a max contract extension he isn't worth and mess up your team's future?
b) trade him to his desired destination and take back bad contracts and mess up your team's future?

Trade him this summer before this mess happens. If we had no intention of paying him, why drag this out?

Well I would have traded him before the draft and posted as such at the time. But it seems Jimmy and agent said all the right things about coming in this season and being more available etc. Heat took them at their word. Jimmy and agent should have just demanded a trade then instead of lying. Maybe he wasn’t lying at the time but he sure changed his mind about it quick

[Kobeskillz]

Riley is embarrassing himself.

Just trade him already dude.

I respect Riley for this. Jimmy looks terrible. Come on dude.

[DusterBuster]

As far as I remember being told by the Heat fans and media, the rule is that if a player demands to goto a specific team, they just need to get the deal done and move the player where he wants to go, no shopping for the best deal allowed, right?

[JujitsuFlip]

How would you deal with him?

a) give him a max contract extension he isn't worth and mess up your team's future?
b) trade him to his desired destination and take back bad contracts and mess up your team's future?

Trade him this summer before this mess happens. If we had no intention of paying him, why drag this out?

Well I would have traded him before the draft and posted as such at the time. But it seems Jimmy and agent said all the right things about coming in this season and being more available etc. Heat took them at their word. Jimmy and agent should have just demanded a trade then instead of lying. Maybe he wasn’t lying at the time but he sure changed his mind about it quick

As soon as he was late to media day, they shoulda started working the phones.

[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.

Bulls brought him and Wade off the bench because they wouldn't stop publicly dumping on the young guys.

He hated Ben and Brett Brown lol there are tons of stories about how he undermined Brown in his short time there. Yes he loved Joel and still does but Brand not giving him the full max is why he said cya.

Like i said, guy has went out on trash terms on every team. To varying degrees to be sure but he never left anywhere happy and on good terms.

He came off the bench for exactly one game in Chicago. Just because he criticized his younger teammates and coaches, it doesn't necessarily mean he left on bad terms. Chicago didnt think he was good enough to be their #1 and opted for a rebuilding package from Minnesota to appease both sides. Jimmy's on record saying he never wanted to leave Chicago and got his wish being reunited with Thibs.

He never left Philly on bad terms, he left because they straight up didn't want him. They gave his contract Tobias Harris and we all know how that turned out. Not sure where you got the notion he hated Simmons, Brett Brown is a different story but considering how his HC experience turned out, how can you blame him when he played under Thibs and then Spo in Miami when he made those comments.

I'm pretty sure both Chicago and Philly have no ill will towards him. He helped jumpstart the rebuild with the assets in the Minnesota trade + subsequent tanking and Philly has major regrats not giving him that 5 year max he wanted.

[JRoy]

His hijinx are getting old.

[JustBuzzin]

Riley is embarrassing himself.

Just trade him already dude.

I respect Riley for this. Jimmy looks terrible. Come on dude.

You respect a man who needs with all his stars lol

[Heat3]

As far as I remember being told by the Heat fans and media, the rule is that if a player demands to goto a specific team, they just need to get the deal done and move the player where he wants to go, no shopping for the best deal allowed, right?

You sure do love posting about it over and over don’t you. Guess your Dame package not bringing enough joy to move on? Jimmy can be a free agent in 3 months. He can go to his desired destination then if he wants. Miami isn’t holding him hostage or fooling him with false promises.