Heat planning to suspend Jimmy Butler for two games, sources say

The Miami Heat are planning to suspend star guard Jimmy Butler for two games, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday.

Butler missed a team flight Wednesday and had plans to join the Heat tonight, sources said. Now Miami is keeping him home from its two-game road trip.

Butler had just returned Friday from a seven-game team suspension for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”

“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the Heat said in a statement addressing the first suspension. “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”

Sources told ESPN on Friday that the Heat would like to find a deal to accommodate Butler’s wishes to send him elsewhere, but to this point, a deal that satisfies what Miami is looking for — some combination of players that can help the Heat now, movable short-term salary, young players and draft capital — hasn’t materialized.

Butler is in the last guaranteed year of his contract; he has a player option worth more than $52 million for next season.

Information from ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and The Associated Press was used in this report.