Sometimes, at the start of a relationship, you can see its end. When the Miami Heat acquired Jimmy Butler, in 2019, what did they expect would happen? “I like controversy,” Butler said to reporters, in 2017, when he was a member of the Chicago Bulls. Right around that time, he was fined for a locker-room argument in which he questioned the younger players’ desire to win. He felt underappreciated, and he reportedly called the team’s head coach, Fred Hoiberg, “soft.” Butler was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves after the Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs. “I feed off of confrontation,” he told the basketball writer Michael Pina that summer. “It makes me go.”
Butler forced his way out of Minnesota at the start of his second season there. After asking for a trade, he skipped the first two weeks of training camp. He bridled at being made to practice despite his trade request. “I have a for-real problem with authority,” he later explained on J. J. Redick’s podcast. “When somebody’s telling me what to do as a grown man, I have a problem with it.” When he finally showed up, he started yelling at the general manager, Scott Layden. “You fucking need me, Scott,” he said. “You can’t win without me.” Butler joined a reserve squad for a scrimmage, and they crushed the starters. He shut down the team’s best players largely by himself. When the game was over, his Timberwolves teammate Jeff Teague recalled, Butler took off his warmups to reveal his shirt and shorts, with big holes where he had cut out the word “Minnesota.” He bolted before practice was even over. When the other Timberwolves headed back to the locker room, they turned on ESPN and saw Butler, already at home, describing his discontent to the journalist Rachel Nichols. The interview had already been set up.
A month after that, the Timberwolves traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. With Butler, the 76ers made the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they narrowly lost to the Toronto Raptors. Then, in the offseason, the 76ers decided to sign Tobias Harris, instead of paying Butler what he thought he was worth. Butler left Philly for Miami, and later described his fallout with the team on Redick’s podcast. He said that he’d heard there were questions about whether the 76ers’ coach, Brett Brown, could “control him.” “I was, like, ‘You don’t gotta worry about it,’ ” Butler said. “Shit, can’t nobody fucking control me.” When he was playing for Miami in the 2022 playoffs, the Heat beat the 76ers and he shouted, “Tobias Harris over me?”
Miami was supposed to be different, in the same way that Butler was clearly different. Other stars had forced their way into trades before: Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Ben Simmons, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George, among others. Some of those deals worked out; some did not. But no one had ever seemed to fit his new team quite like Butler seemed to fit the Heat. The team was hypercompetitive; Butler was, too. The Heat had the hardest preseason conditioning test in the league; Butler’s intense work ethic was legendary. Butler was a “serial killer’s dream,” his personal skills trainer told Pina, back in 2017. “He does the same shit every fucking day.” Pat Riley, the Heat’s calculating, impenetrable president? Also a serial killer’s dream. Both fetishized toughness and proving others wrong. Butler played in junior college before transferring to Marquette University, and was the thirtieth pick in the N.B.A. draft. In Miami, he was the best player on a team that relied on contributions from former G Leaguers and undrafted players. The Heat made the N.B.A. Finals as the fifth seed in the East, in 2020, and again, as the eighth seed, in 2023. The higher the stakes, the harder the team hustled. The higher the stakes, the better Butler got.
Before “Heat Culture” was a brand—the words now painted on the floor, sold on jerseys—it seemed to be a real thing. Intangible, but real. You could find evidence of it in the stats of playoff games, like charges taken and loose balls recovered, and in the intensity of the team’s zone defense. You could hear it in the zeal with which players spoke about it, and their pride that not everyone could stand it. Heat culture predated Butler; its paragon was Riley. He wore suits and slicked back his hair, and, as Udonis Haslem, the player who, more than anyone, represented the team’s ethos, said, Riley wanted his teams to be “a little nasty.” And there was something a little nasty about the way Riley pushed players, and sometimes pushed them out, even the stars. Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James all left. But all of them came to praise Riley, and some of them have returned to his fold.
When Butler arrived, he seemed to embody the team’s energy. But in fact he was a culture all of his own. Stories have been emerging about how there were cracks forming in the relationships between Riley and Butler, between Butler and other members of the team. He would fly private instead of joining everyone on the charter. He’d stay at his own place, not the team hotel. He got special treatment, which was nothing new; stars often do. But, as far as the tenets of Heat culture go, hard work wins championships, sacrifice wins championships, toughness wins championships. Teamwork, not freelancing stars, wins championships. Butler was, at times, a great teammate, but also in many ways an island unto himself.
Heat culture hasn’t actually won any championships in recent years. But good players have, and lately Miami has needed more of them. Butler has often been injured, and is thirty-five years old now. The team has been focussed on cultivating a few of its best young players, including Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. The front office’s failure to sign another big star reportedly frustrated Butler. Then the Heat did not offer him the two-year, hundred-and-thirteen-million-dollar max extension he was eligible for this past summer. Riley raised questions about Butler’s durability and ego, after Butler declared, in May, that the Heat could have gone further in the post-season had he been fully healthy. “For him to say that, I thought, Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?” Riley said. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston, or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut in your criticism of those teams.”
The Heat probably should have traded him right then. Riley might have been right about not offering Butler so much money, but it has always been clear that, to Butler, money is a signal of value, respect. Maybe Riley was also right about Butler’s chirping, but it’s no surprise to learn that Butler reportedly took offense to that, too. During the start of the season, Butler was in and out of the lineup with injuries, and sometimes seemed to be out of it even when he was in. He let it leak that he wanted to be traded. He talked about wanting to recover his “joy” on the court. The Heat suspended him for seven games, citing issues with his conduct toward the team. He skipped a flight, and was suspended for another two. Then he came to practice, and was told he’d be replaced in the starting lineup with Haywood Highsmith, a player few outside of Miami, and quite possibly few within it, had heard of. The N.B.A. reporter Brian Windhorst later described it as a setup, and Butler complied, walking out. The Heat suspended him indefinitely.
It’s likely that he’ll be traded by Thursday’s deadline. He is still a fantastic defender, a disciplined player, a gnarly competitor, and now he has something to prove. It’s been rumored that the Heat, who clearly have no other choice, have been dropping the price and now are shopping him cheap. Some people have wondered why he would sink his stock and worsen his trade value. They seem to suggest that he should view himself as fans and analysts sometimes view him, as an asset. They wonder why he isn’t more considerate of his teammates, whom he’s putting in an awful position, and why he’d damage his legacy. His teammates, for their part, appear ready to move on from him.
“You gotta go further into my life to understand why I am the way that I am,” Butler told Sports Illustrated, a few years ago. “And I ain’t changing.” He grew up in Tomball, Texas, a tiny town outside of Houston. His father left him and his mother, and then his mother kicked him out when he was thirteen. She told him, he recalled, “I don’t like the look of you.” He had to fend for himself, and went from couch to couch, until a friend’s family took him in. “I’m gonna go or I’m gonna be or I’m gonna stay wherever I’m wanted, man. Because that’s all anybody ever wants,” he said, in 2017. “To be appreciated.”
There was a sense, in Miami, that he’d found his people: the intense coach, who could in one moment nearly come to blows with him and in another embrace him; the teammates who could withstand his brutal workouts, who had nearly as much to prove as he did; and Riley, a man who might just possibly understand and value him. Riley has heaped praise on Butler in the past. But lately there has been the reminder of limits, an almost paternal strictness. You should keep your mouth shut. Riley rarely speaks to the press these days, but he recently went on the podcast of Dan Le Batard, and they spoke as friends do. At several points in the course of nearly two hours, Riley sounded emotional, choked up. They discussed Riley’s father, a “great man,” Riley said, who had never achieved his own dreams as a ballplayer, and who’d been very hard on his children. “Whatever I did wasn’t good enough.” Later he said, of him and his siblings, “Without a doubt, we were survivors. If my father gave us one thing, all of us, it’s, You’re on your own. And, when we all got the opportunity to leave, we left.”
Riley got a scholarship to the University of Kentucky, where he played on an all-white team that lost the national championship to Texas Western College, in a game that helped drive the integration of sports. From there, he went pro, before becoming a commentator and then a coach. His father died when he was twenty-five. There was the suggestion, throughout the interview, that Riley turned basketball into a family, though his model at times has seemed more like that of a Don than the life he shares with his wife and children. (His nickname is the Godfather.) It’s not clear precisely when the interview was recorded, but, when he was asked by Le Batard about the way he related to players these days, his answer seemed to allude to Butler in particular:
Jimmy Butler’s Messy Splits: A Deep Dive into the NBA Star’s Turbulent Relationships
In the world of professional sports, drama and controversy are not uncommon. But few players have experienced as many messy splits as NBA star Jimmy Butler. From his tumultuous departure from the Chicago Bulls to his rocky relationships with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, Butler’s career has been marked by drama both on and off the court.
In this in-depth analysis, The New Yorker explores the reasons behind Butler’s turbulent relationships with his former teams and the impact it has had on his reputation in the league. From clashes with teammates and coaches to demanding trades and public outbursts, Butler’s career has been anything but smooth sailing.
But despite the drama, one thing is clear: Butler is a talented and tenacious player who has proven time and time again that he can thrive in high-pressure situations. As he continues to make headlines with his recent move to the Miami Heat, one thing is for certain: Jimmy Butler’s messy splits are far from over.
Stay tuned for more updates on Butler’s career and the latest developments in the NBA world, only on The New Yorker.
Tags:
Jimmy Butler, NBA, trade rumors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, basketball, sports news, athlete controversies, locker room drama, The New Yorker, professional athlete scandals
#Jimmy #Butlers #Messy #Splits #Yorker
MIAMI — When you ask anyone around the Miami Heat (23-22), they’re accustomed to each layer of Jimmy Butler’s drama with the front office, including the most obvious part of him being suspended several times in the last month: his absence. For myriad reasons, Butler has missed 19 games this season, but his trade drama with Miami has been the reason that count has reached double digits for January alone.
After Butler was suspended for seven games on Jan. 3, team captain Bam Adebayo understood the world’s interest in knowing more. Still, he wanted to leave the issue to between Butler and management. On Monday, after Butler participated in shootaround prior to walking out and being suspended a third time, Tyler Herro said lineup adjustments “kind of feels normal now, at this point” and that “nothing changes for me” whether Butler plays or misses another window of time.
Ultimately, Butler’s teammates do have to play basketball with or without him on the court, so it makes sense for their focus to remain there. To borrow some executive-friendly phrasing, it is fair to describe any individual element of the situation as “fluid.” After all, how often does a player get suspended three times in roughly a month’s time? In that span, Butler has gone from publicly stating he doesn’t care whether he’s traded to reassuring the public he has no beef with his teammates.
GO DEEPER
Heat suspend Jimmy Butler after he walked out of shootaround
Depending on how you process any recent Heat news, that latter point feels correct, given some of Butler’s relationships with players on Miami’s roster. That is especially true of younger contributors who have grown to see Butler as a mentor no matter his team-related drama or level of candor.
Third-year forward Nikola Jović, for example, often credits Butler for aiding his transition to the NBA by being honest with him during stretches when the 2022 first-round pick (27th overall) has either not played well or at all. Jović has learned the finer points of training from Butler. That includes how to maintain his body as well as managing the rigors of NBA business. He has spoken to Butler away from the court, no matter Butler’s status with the Heat. When Butler was first suspended early in the month, Jović likened Butler’s frankness to that of his parents because of his honesty.
“I’m happy that he’s real with me because, since I came here, not a lot of people are really real with you,” Jović told The Athletic on Monday. “Everybody wanna tap you on the shoulder, tell you that everything is going good, even though maybe things are not.
“So, last year, at one point, I didn’t play at all. I think he was injured, and he just called me up to come to practice with him. During those times, he told me that I’m not good enough, I’m not locked in and I’m not putting in enough effort. I wasn’t really happy to hear that, but it was the truth. That was the honest truth. I was happy that he told me, so we practiced a few times. I got a chance. I think I played really good that game. And from that point, I think I was just getting better and better. Even after that, if I was bulls—ing, he would always tell me. It’s simple stuff. He’s just honest and a good friend.”
GO DEEPER
Heat Today: Teammates dealing with Jimmy Butler drama: ‘Feels weird to not see him’
Butler has certainly strained a few relationships over his 14-year NBA career, but that can come with the territory of a player who has overachieved with each team he has played on while raising each squad’s ceiling. At each stop, Butler has enjoyed wonderful starts before moving on once matters become strained. Still, he maintains solid relationships with former teammates, whether those teammates have reached MVP-level status (Joel Embiid of the 76ers) or have been role players who trotted onto their own greener pastures (Max Strus of the Cavaliers).
That doesn’t negate Butler ruffling the feathers of other NBAers during his time in the league, with Karl-Anthony Towns understandably topping that list, given the intense practice involving himself, Butler and the Timberwolves shortly before Butler’s Minnesota tenure ended. But even Towns has verbalized that he and Butler have grown to be “in a cool spot” since that time. That probably says more about ice being able to thaw than any presumed warmth between the two. Progress is progress, right?
Butler has some friends and confidantes around the league, and he also has some detractors. That is relevant as he hopes to move on to a new franchise by the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. Even after abruptly leaving Monday’s Heat practice, not every bridge Butler has built in Miami has been burned, no matter how his time with the team could end.
Rookie guard Pelle Larsson has played spot minutes for the Heat throughout his first season.
“He’s been in Sweden a couple times. He was there this summer. We just had regular-people conversations,” Larsson said of Butler. “That’s what it’s all about, getting to know each other. At the end of the day, we’re all humans. We just got to have grace for each other. Whatever someone is going through, they’re going through, so just have to be a professional.
GO DEEPER
Heat Today: Despite up-and-down road trip, Tyler Herro remains confident in Heat’s youthful core
“I have a lot of respect for that dude, just what he’s done, his whole journey and what he can do as a player. So, there’s definitely a lot I can learn from him as far as the long career he’s had and the impact he’s had. From what guys [have] been telling me, it’s crazy being involved in the business, so when they try to blow up things as much as possible, you got to stay level-headed and focus on the next 24 hours, what we’re doing with the team. So that’s what I’ve been doing.”
How Butler’s time in Miami ends remains to be seen, but his suspensions or potential departure don’t change the fact the Heat have a schedule to play out. Jović, who has been averaging 13.3 points and shooting 41.1 percent from deep over his last nine games, remains appreciative of Butler’s influence but also focused on what the Heat can accomplish in his absence, especially as the team sits three games behind the Milwaukee Bucks (26-19) for fourth in the East despite an undoubtedly challenging season.
“He’s my good friend and my teammate,” Jović said. “It’s hard to not play with your best player — one of the best players in the world. But that’s what it is right now, and we just got to compete without him. Of course, I talk to him. Of course, he’s frustrated. Things are not working as he would want them right now. If he’s, at the moment, not here right now, we’ve just got to play without him. Even though we’re young, we’ve got some talent. I feel like maybe we can show the world we’re good enough without him.”
(Top photo: Issac Baldizon / Getty Images )
In a recent press conference, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra addressed Jimmy Butler’s continued absence from the team and acknowledged that it has become the new normal for the squad.
“That’s what it is right now,” Spoelstra said. “We have to adapt and adjust without Jimmy in the lineup. It’s certainly not ideal, but we have to make the best of the situation.”
Butler has been dealing with various injuries and personal reasons that have kept him out of the lineup for several games this season. Despite his absence, the Heat have managed to maintain a competitive edge and stay in the playoff picture.
Spoelstra emphasized the importance of remaining focused and resilient in the face of adversity. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to step up and fill the void left by Butler’s absence.
“We have a deep roster with talented players who are capable of stepping up when called upon,” Spoelstra said. “We have to continue to trust each other and play our game, regardless of who is on the court.”
As the Heat navigate through this challenging period without their star player, they will look to rely on their depth and collective effort to stay competitive in the Eastern Conference. Butler’s absence may be the new normal for now, but the team remains determined to rise to the occasion and continue their pursuit of success.
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#Jimmy #Butlers #absence #Heat #teams #normal
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is currently the highest-grossing film of 2025. The film features Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson in the lead roles, reprising their characters from the previous film. The movie has crossed a significant milestone at the worldwide box office and is around $4 million away from recovering its reported budget. Keep scrolling for the deets.
For the uninitiated, it is the sequel to the 2018 heist film Den of Thieves, both of which were directed by Christian Gudegast. The sequel is inspired by the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, which featured Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, Swen Temmel, and Michael Bisping in supporting roles.
Den of Thieves 2 has a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics gave it 60%, and the collective consensus states, “Pantera trades the original Den of Thieves’ self-seriousness for a more winking lightheartedness that doesn’t entirely smooth over its familiarity but ought to satisfy those hankering for absolute Dad Cinema.” The audience is also enjoying the heist film, as they have given it 79%.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera collected $423K on its second Thursday, a drop of -50.3% from last week. The film has reached a $28.85 million cume at the box office in North America. It has collected a solid $7.33 million overseas. Adding that to the film’s domestic cume, its worldwide gross amounts to $36.18 million, crossing the $35 million milestone worldwide. It is less than $5 million away from recovering its reported production budget of $40 million.
Pantera is still enjoying the title of 2025’s highest-grossing film, but that title is temporary as Captain America: Brave New World is set to hit the screens next month and snatch that away. According to Luiz Fernando’s report, the movie is eyeing a $40-$50 million run in the United States.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, starring Gerard Butler, was released in the theatres on January 10.
Note: Box office numbers are based on estimates and various sources. Numbers have not been independently verified by Koimoi.
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Gerard Butler’s Film Hits A Significant Milestone, Despite Facing Multiple Biggies!
Scottish actor Gerard Butler’s latest film has managed to reach a significant milestone at the box office, despite facing tough competition from multiple big budget releases. The action-packed thriller, which features Butler in the lead role, has been receiving rave reviews from both critics and audiences alike.
Despite going head-to-head with some major Hollywood blockbusters, Butler’s film has managed to hold its own and attract a sizable audience. The film’s success is a testament to Butler’s star power and acting prowess, as well as the gripping storyline and high-octane action sequences that have captivated viewers.
Fans of Butler and action-packed thrillers are flocking to theaters to catch the film, which has been hailed as a must-watch for anyone looking for a thrilling and entertaining cinematic experience. With Butler’s charismatic performance and the film’s intense plot twists, it’s no wonder that it has managed to stand out among the crowded field of summer releases.
As the film continues to gain momentum and attract more viewers, it is clear that Gerard Butler’s latest project is a hit that is not to be missed. Congratulations to Butler and the entire cast and crew for reaching this significant milestone, and here’s to many more successful projects in the future!
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#Gerard #Butlers #Film #Hits #Significant #Milestone #Facing #Multiple #Biggies
Gerard Butler has enjoyed a strong career in Hollywood, and his most recent release has only made him more prominent. The actor first rose to prominence with the role of Count Dracula in the vampire film Dracula 2000. Later, leading roles in the movies The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and P.S. I Love You (2007) helped establish him as a romantic lead. Yet, he truly earned global recognition by playing King Leonidas in Zack Snyder’s historical action epic 300. This kick-started Butler’s status as an action star and a nearly two-decade career as an icon of the genre.
Butler has appeared in multiple blockbuster productions through the years, including the Has Fallen movie franchise, and disaster movies such as Geostorm. He has appeared in a slew of box office successes, with his highest-grossing movies being the animated How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, as well as 300, Tomorrow Never Dies, Geostorm, and The Ugly Truth. Butler has begun producing many of his movies, and 2025 looks set to be an especially big year for Butler. He has three films scheduled for release, while an action sequel is currently making waves at the box office.
Written and directed by Christian Gudegast, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is the follow-up to the 2018 action crime film, starring Butler (Big Nick) and O’Shea Jackson Jr (Donnie Wilson). The two stars reprised their roles for the follow-up, which Butler also produced. The sequel sees Big Nick follow Donnie to Europe to team up with him for a robbery with even bigger stakes. Released on January 10, 2025, in the United States, the film will be looking to surpass the original movie’s total of $80.5 million, which would be about $100 million after accounting for inflation.
January is a notoriously quiet period for the box office, and many films will struggle to perform well.
Per reports in Deadline, the movie has closed in on an important domestic milestone, passing the $30 million mark at the domestic box office. The movie has taken a total of $31.6 million domestically, and hopes will be high that it can cross the $50 million mark before it runs out of steam. That is enough to keep pace with the original movie’s run, so it is progressing in a relatively strong fashion in a slow month. Still, these figures do not account for inflation, which has risen significantly in the years since 2018.
When Den of Thieves first released in 2018, it was in an entirely different market. In the seven years between the movies, Hollywood has changed significantly. The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes delayed the production of countless movies and shows for months, which hurt studios and changed audience expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic also made audiences far more wary of theaters. While a few choice movies have seen success, including Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Barbie (2023), and Inside Out 2 (2024), the box office remains tumultuous. Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe has struggled to regain momentum after the pandemic.
The rise of Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming platforms has driven many of these changes, as well.
It has not all been bad news, however. Movies have begun to see immense success on streaming platforms. With that in mind, it is no surprise that Butler’s sequel did not improve on the original’s performance. Viewers may be waiting to see it come to streaming. Additionally, January is a notoriously quiet period for the box office, and many films will struggle to perform well. This month, especially, has been extremely slow, as the weekend box office is being led by Mark Wahlberg’s Flight Risk, a movie that earned just $12 million in its 3-day opener.
While Den of Thieves 2: Pantera does not have a high benchmark for success, the movie could at least break even theatrically. While its recent milestone is far behind the $100 million total it needs to achieve a profit, it only applies to domestic income. This franchise does have a strong North American lean, but any ticket sales overseas still improve its chances of reaching that coveted $100 million total. Besides, it will still have the opportunity to attempt to reach success through streaming platforms in the coming months. After surpassing its predecessor on Rotten Tomatoes, it has good chances:
|
Title |
Tomatometer Score |
Popcornmeter Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Den of Thieves (2018) |
41% |
63% |
|
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) |
61% |
79% |
Den of Thieves 2 has a strong cast and is already an established intellectual property, which is essential in this new media landscape. After all, of the top 10 2024 box office releases, not a single one was an original property. As a sequel, Pantera has the opportunity to capture audiences who may not be willing to take risks with movies anymore. That could help achieve more success long-term. I would expect the movie to perform much better when it hits streaming platforms, and the movies could wind up becoming a cult franchise for Butler.
Source: Deadline
January 10, 2025
144 minutes
Christian Gudegast
Christian Gudegast
Gerard Butler’s latest action-packed film has achieved a major feat at the domestic box office in just three weeks since its release. The movie, which has been garnering praise for its high-octane thrills and Butler’s intense performance, has crossed a significant milestone in terms of box office earnings.
Fans of the Scottish actor have been flocking to theaters to catch the film, which has been receiving positive reviews for its non-stop action and gripping storyline. Butler’s star power and on-screen charisma have undoubtedly contributed to the movie’s success, as audiences have been thrilled by his portrayal of a tough-as-nails hero facing insurmountable odds.
With this latest achievement, Gerard Butler has once again proven himself as a force to be reckoned with in the action movie genre. His new film has struck a chord with audiences and is sure to leave a lasting impact on the box office charts for weeks to come. Congratulations to Gerard Butler and the entire cast and crew on this impressive milestone!
Tags:
Gerard Butler, action movie, box office milestone, domestic box office, theaters, new release, success, Hollywood, actor, film industry, record-breaking, blockbuster, entertainment, movie news
#Gerard #Butlers #Action #Movie #Passes #Major #Domestic #Box #Office #Milestone #Weeks #Theaters
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Good morning! Take the money today.
Who’s Left? Who’s left on the NFL coaching carousel?
After a few dormant days, the NFL coaching cycle has re-emerged as our top story. Spots are disappearing, and drama is unfolding. Quickly:
Thus, here’s what’s left:
I suspect we’ll hear more intel after the conference championship games this weekend. Stay tuned.
Sun-undrums: Jimmy Butler, the Suns and shiny objects
When we remember Jimmy Butler’s time in the NBA, three things will crown his resume:
Butler is currently at odds with his own front office in Miami after demanding a trade last month. He is coy and combative in interviews, an attitude that earned him a seven-game suspension earlier this month. The Heat suspended him again yesterday, this time for two games, after he missed a team flight.
This is all in an effort to make the situation so uncomfortable the team has to move him … which is how you quickly force a trade in the NBA these days. He’s done this before, and I get both sides of this squabble here: Butler is 35 and aging, so the Heat have scaled back his role. Butler, still a star player, doesn’t like that.
Where he wants to go: the Phoenix Suns. He hasn’t been shy about that. He wore Suns-colored shoes this week (seriously, ICYMI yesterday), and reports out of his camp indicate Phoenix is the spot. But I want to highlight the larger point John Hollinger made on the Suns yesterday:
It’s hard to imagine a team that will rely on a 35-year-old Butler and a 36-year-old Kevin Durant holding up enough to make a title run out of the Western Conference. The trade itself will be fun, at least.
The Feb. 6 trade deadline is two weeks away. Let’s keep going:
Shelton slams media
Young American tennis star Ben Shelton derided local media in Australia yesterday, mainly a response to the rift between Novak Djokovic and announcer Tony Jones. But Shelton, 22, added that it wasn’t “just a single event,” pointing to uncomfortable moments with upstart Learner Tien and even himself. His full comments are worth a look.
USMNT routs Costa Rica
The Americans are 2-0 in 2025 after a 3-0 win last night, spurred by goals from Brian White, Caden Clark and Patrick Agyemang. But the real winner was goalie Zack Steffen, making his first USMNT start in three years, holding the Costa Ricans goalless while the Americans held a tenuous lead for most of the match. Bonus points go to Diego Luna, who played through a broken nose suffered early in the contest. “Big balls,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said. Read the recap here.
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Feedback Loop: Take the money, kid
We have a majority opinion on the one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes card, and I think it makes a ton of sense. Two things:
The Pulse says this card should go to auction. But we must give a hearty round of applause to the Pirates, because the package they’re offering is pretty unbelievable. The card just ended up in the wrong location.
We’ll keep you updated on what happens to the card. Thank you, as always, for voting.
NCAAW: No. 17 Tennessee at No. 7 Texas
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Lady Vols have been good in their first season under Kim Caldwell, but face an elite Longhorns team here. Should be fun.
NBA: Celtics at Lakers
10 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV/Max
Both of these classic franchises have had yo-yo seasons. Steve Kerr thinks the Celtics’ midseason swoon is nothing to worry about, though, and the Lakers are finally getting Jarred Vanderbilt back this weekend before the stretch run. Let’s see whose vibes are better.
Get tickets to games like these here.
In the latest news from the sports world, another NFL coaching spot has been claimed as the carousel of coaching changes continues. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler finds himself in a complicated mess.
After weeks of speculation, the Houston Texans have officially named Josh McCown as their new head coach. The former NFL quarterback turned coach has been praised for his leadership skills and football acumen, making him a promising choice for the Texans as they look to turn their franchise around.
On the other hand, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is facing a complicated situation off the court. Reports have emerged of tension between Butler and his teammates, as well as the coaching staff. Rumors of a potential trade have been swirling, leaving fans wondering about the future of the All-Star forward.
As the NFL coaching carousel continues to spin and drama unfolds in the NBA, sports fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in these developing stories. Stay tuned for more updates on these evolving situations.
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#NFL #coaching #spot #claimed #Jimmy #Butlers #complicated #mess
Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat lineup on Tuesday as they matched up against the Portland Trail Blazers in the only corner of the country that isn’t held in the throes of winter. As it turns out, Miami weather wasn’t the only thing hot in southern Florida. The Blazers shot 49.4% from the field on their way to a 116-107 win over Butler and company. The only thing more fun to watch than the game might be the hand-wringing in Miami over the next couple of days.
Butler scored 13 on just 9 shots—the fewest attempts of all Miami starters—in his return. He had 8 assists beside. Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 24. Seven Blazers scored in double figures.
Here are some of the trends that defined the game.
Absent Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija took the “guard anyone and everyone” role for Portland’s starting lineup. He went to the perimeter to try to inhibit Duncan Robinson on three-point attempts and stood in the paint to body up Bam Adebayo. Avdija’s heart was in it. The results weren’t quite the same as Camara produces. Both Robinson and Adebayo scored. But the effort was appreciated.
Avdija also became a one-man foul-drawing machine on the other end. He committed to the drive, absorbing contact and getting shots up to force whistles against his counterparts. It was a nice little wrinkle that caused Miami to think twice about Bam’s minutes, for one.
Avdija finished with 16 points, drawing an impressive 10 foul shots (though he hit only 5). He also had 5 assists and 2 steals.
Portland had trouble shutting down the lane against Miami, falling under a barrage of drives in the opening quarters which soon became drive-and-kicks when the Blazers collapsed to try and help. Deandre Ayton’s general lack of mobility exacerbated the absence of Camara, leaving the Blazers without some of their usual zing. Those blunted penetration attempts soon became a flurry of threes.
The situation normalized a little when Jabari Walker checked in at center, providing a bit more mobility. Dalano Banton’s length at point guard also helped. But going mobile at the big spots left Portland undersized when guarding Kel’el Ware, becoming a pick-your-poison situation.
Fortunately Portland righted the ship in the second half, playing faster and with more commitment. They ended up tied with Miami in paint points at 46, holding the Heat to just 33.3% shooting from the arc. It was a tale of two halves and it made all the difference.
Fielding a seven-footer isn’t all bad news, however. Ayton had 14 points and 10 rebounds at halftime. Ayton led the Blazers with 6 offensive rebounds, finishing the game with 15 to go along with 22 points. If Portland had trouble with Miami’s frontcourt, at least the Heat also had some trouble with Portland’s.
Ayton limped to the bench with 1:38 remaining in the game. We’ll keep you updated on any injury reports.
Anfernee Simons never met a three-point shot he didn’t like tonight. Rightfully so, too. Simons finished the game 6-12 beyond the arc, fileting the Heat like a swordfish. Perhaps he was auditio…uhhhh…showing off his skills in his home state.
Almost every time we mention turnovers this season, it’s about how face-palm painful watching the Blazers cough up the ball is. The story was the opposite tonight. Portland committed zero (0) turnovers in the first half and only 6 for the game. That’s, like, a single quarter for them under normal circumstances. It’s amazing how much easier building and maintaining a lead is when you’re not tossing points to the opponent.
Jerami Grant scored 9 points in the first 6 minutes after halftime, becoming the main contributor to the streak that gave Portland the game. The final tally in the third was 36-22, Portland. Grant ended up with 18 points and a couple of blocks for the game. Perhaps he was audito…uhhhh…showing off his skills in Anfernee Simons’ home state.
The Blazers put on a clinic in transition, outscoring Miami 21-5 in fast break points. Credit the low turnover numbers we just mentioned. Instead of muddling through the game with a “your turn, my turn” series of layups, Portland actually made the opponent pay for playing slower. This above all made the game easier. Let’s hope the Blazers learn the lesson and keep it up.
As often happens with the Blazers, the opponent turned around just about everything good we said in the final quarter, closing the lead back enough to threaten the game. Portland’s defense went bonk, as did their speed down the floor. Their offense went cold too, although this was more of a side effect than a main problem.
Injuries aren’t helping the Blazers. Portland’s offensive stalwarts—tonight Simons and Ayton—don’t help the defense much. Some of their best defensive players are out. They need guys like Camara and Robert Williams III who can come in and close out a game credibly while playing under control. Failing that, they’re all but forced to blitz-score their way to the win. When the shots don’t fall, they don’t have a really good back-up plan.
Thank goodness it was a moot point tonight, but a 30-19 final frame for Miami almost ruined Portland’s evening.
The Blazers head up the road to face the Orlando Magic at 4:00 PM, Pacific on Thursday.
In a highly anticipated matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers spoiled Jimmy Butler’s return to the Miami Heat with a dominant performance. The Blazers showcased their offensive firepower and stifling defense, leaving the Heat reeling and causing angst among Miami fans.
Despite Butler’s impressive return from injury, scoring 25 points and dishing out 8 assists, the Trail Blazers were simply too much to handle. Damian Lillard led the charge for Portland, pouring in 30 points and orchestrating the offense with precision. The Blazers’ bench also made a significant impact, outscoring the Heat’s reserves by a wide margin.
The loss left Miami fans frustrated and concerned about their team’s performance, especially with the playoffs looming. The Heat have been struggling as of late, and this defeat only added to the growing sense of unease among the fan base.
As the regular season winds down, the Heat will need to regroup and find their rhythm if they hope to make a deep playoff run. But for now, the Trail Blazers have emerged victorious, leaving a trail of disappointment in Miami.
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#Trail #Blazers #Ruin #Jimmy #Butlers #Return #Angst #Miami
MIAMI — Perhaps little says as much about the convoluted current relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat as this: The team has reached the end game of its seven-game unpaid suspension of the former All-Star forward with the situation nonetheless ongoing.
With Wednesday night’s 117-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, Butler, according to the team’s sanction, now stands eligible to return for Friday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center.
Still to be determined is in what role and in what mental state, with the suspension beginning on Jan. 3 in light of two games the Heat contended Butler did not provide requisite effort amid the forward’s disappointment of the team’s playing style and the franchise’s lack of earlier addressing his eligibility for an extension.
Against that backdrop, the Heat went 3-4 in Butler’s absence, including 3-3 on the just-completed western trip.
Also against that backdrop stands the reality of what appears to be an irreparably damaged relationship after a 5 1/2-season run that has included two visits to the NBA Finals and three to the Eastern Conference finals.
Having met previously with Heat President Pat Riley in a conversation that appeared to do little toward quelling the simmering tensions, NBA sources said Butler also had a Thursday meeting scheduled with Heat owner Micky Arison.
Still, the perception is one of a breaking point, from no less than franchise icon Dwyane Wade, who had his own contractual contretemps with Riley, Arison and the Heat over his Hall of Fame Heat career.
“To give Jimmy credit, Jimmy came in when they were losing the face of their franchise and became the face of the franchise. That’s hard to do. He became the people that those guys want to buy his jersey, wear his jersey. The Heat was a soft landing spot for Jimmy and Jimmy was exactly the star that the Heat needed for six years — Finals, big moments that they’ve had together,” Wade said on an episode of his The Why with Dwyane Wade podcast that dropped this week.
“It’s ending tragically, this is tragic. This is a tragic way to end a relationship. So as a former player, it’s ugly on our franchise, it’s a stain on our franchise that we continue to have the way that the relationships break up. But also, too, on the other side, you don’t run that organization as a player. So you get to that space sometimes where you want to do things your way. It’s Pat Riley’s way.”
While Butler has not publicly demanded a trade, it has been made clear that he has no intention of continuing the relationship beyond this season, with the hope of an escape by the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline, if not sooner.
Failing a move by that deadline, Butler has the option of opting out of the final season on his contract, or to pick up that option year and then again push for a trade in the offseason..
While the suspension ended with Wednesday night’s loss to the Lakers that dropped the Heat to 20-19, the Heat have not retracted their statement that they would work toward a trade of Butler.
The Heat’s statement issued on Jan. 3 read:
“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. 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.”
The Heat have not publicly addressed the matter since, with the team’s game-by-game injury report simply listing Butler as suspended, a status due to change for Friday’s game.
To Wade, it is a case of egos getting in the way, having sorted out his own kerfuffle with the team in a return engagement after leaving in 2016 in a contract dispute. The Heat since have both retired Wade’s No. 3 and erected a statue in his honor on the steps of the Kaseya Center.
“I came back because I realized that when I left. I was like, ‘Listen, this is what it is,’ ” Wade said. “This is what all of us when we get together, we all appreciate is the way that the organization is run. So the organization will not be run in a way that is going to change to every star that comes into the organization. LeBron James only stayed four years. It wasn’t run the way LeBron James needed it to be run, it wasn’t run the way Dwyane Wade [needed it to be run]. It’s run the way Pat Riley is going to run it and the way the Arisons run it.”
Originally Published:
As Jimmy Butler’s Heat suspension comes to an end, Dwyane Wade reflects on the “tragic” loss for all involved. In a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune, Wade expressed his disappointment in seeing his former teammate face consequences for his actions.
Butler, who was suspended by the Miami Heat for conduct detrimental to the team, has been a key player for the organization since joining in 2019. His absence on the court has been felt by both teammates and fans alike, with Wade acknowledging the impact of losing such a talented player.
Wade, who played alongside Butler during his time with the Heat, shared his thoughts on the situation, calling it a “tragic” loss for everyone involved. He expressed his hope that Butler would be able to learn from this experience and come back stronger than ever.
As Butler prepares to rejoin the team, there is no doubt that his return will be eagerly anticipated by all. The Heat will be looking to bounce back from this setback and continue their pursuit of success in the NBA.
Stay tuned for more updates on Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat as they navigate through this challenging time.
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#Jimmy #Butlers #Heat #suspension #ends #Dwyane #Wade #sees #tragic #loss #involved #Chicago #Tribune
Jimmy Butler‘s six-season tenure with the Miami Heat appears to be nearing its end. Butler, who led Miami to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, was suspended by the team Friday for “conduct detrimental to the team,” one day after indicating to the Heat that he would like to be traded.
Butler, who arrived at training camp this season with a declaration of “no shenanigans,” had scored only 18 points combined in the past two games after sitting out the previous five because of an illness. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Dec. 10 that the Heat were listening to offers on Butler and then on Dec. 25 that Butler preferred a trade out of Miami.
The situation escalated to a point that after Thursday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, Butler said he wanted to find his joy again on the court. When asked if he could do that in Miami, he answered “probably not.”
ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Brian Windhorst look at how the situation between the six-time All-Star and the franchise he has played for since 2019 got to this point, why a trade might not be as easy as it seems and what Butler could bring to a contender.
Butler’s tactics to force Miami’s hand and reverse its stance have appeared to work in the short term. The Heat didn’t fully articulate all the components of what they felt was his “conduct detrimental” that led to the suspension, but Butler clearly wanted to be traded and took measures to get the Heat to come to the same conclusion. His lackluster play the past two games after sitting out five because an illness are probably on the list. In the short term, this play by Butler will cost him $2.35 million in salary but he could eventually win some or all of it back through a planned players’ union grievance. — Windhorst
Riley has never been afraid to say no to star players or walk away from them when he doesn’t want to pay them. Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade all left to sign elsewhere at various points. He traded Shaquille O’Neal and Shawn Marion, among others, when he wanted to pivot the franchise. Now Butler will be on that list. Riley has always been able to acquire major talents, and that reputation has always emboldened him to play hardball. — Windhorst
Each of those situations were different. Chicago refused to give Butler a max contract and traded him to Minnesota for a package of young players and draft picks.
The Minnesota situation was very similar to this one: Butler was unhappy with his contract and requested a trade. But there was one massive difference: Butler had just turned 29, not 35. He eventually was sent to the 76ers for Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless and a second-round pick.
Then, after one season in Philadelphia, the 76ers essentially chose to pay a combination of Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Al Horford over Butler and sent him to Miami in a sign-and-trade during the summer of 2019. — Bontemps
The suspension includes Saturday’s home game against the Utah Jazz and the upcoming six-game trip. It’s clear Riley is sending a message that he does not want Butler around the team right now. The unknown is what happens when the suspension ends ahead of Miami’s Jan. 19 home game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Unless Butler is considered to violate the conduct detrimental policy in his contract from the time the suspension starts, Miami cannot extend the suspension to include more games. Because the suspension is by the team and not the NBA, the Heat will not receive luxury tax savings.
Butler is not the only player in the past three seasons to be suspended by his team. In November 2022, the Brooklyn Nets suspended guard Kyrie Irving eight games for being “unfit to be associated” with the team after the guard failed to say whether he held antisemitic beliefs. — Marks
Butler is being fined $336,543 for each of the seven games missed. The amount equals 1/145 of his $48.8 million salary, totaling around $2.4 million. Butler has 30 days to file a grievance, and the amount fined will sit in an escrow account until the situation is resolved. The grievance process could take up to a year. The NBA Players Association issued a statement late Friday that the suspension was excessive and inappropriate.
Butler asking to be traded and the Heat now listening to offers does not change the challenges of finding the former All-Star a new home. The combination of Butler’s $48.8 million salary this season and nearly a third of teams not allowed to take back more salary in a trade makes any potential deal complicated.
Three out of the four teams on Butler’s preferred list — the Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns — would need to trade a quarter of their roster. The Suns would need to have Bradley Beal waive his no-trade clause. Sources told ESPN, that the Heat have no desire to take back the $110 million owed to Beal and that Phoenix would need to find a third team. The Warriors and Mavericks probably would need to find a third or fourth team to reroute some of the contracts sent out.
The Heat also are not allowed to take back more salary because they are an apron team. — Marks
That depends on how much Butler benefits from rediscovering the joy in basketball with another team. Butler’s 17.6 scoring average is his lowest since 2013-14, the season before he won Most Improved Player and was voted an All-Star for the first time, but there’s reason to believe Butler has more to give elsewhere.
Butler’s 21% usage rate is down substantially from last season’s 24%. At the same time, Butler is scoring more efficiently. His .648 true shooting percentage would be the best of his NBA career, narrowly ahead of 2023-24. And Butler’s 58% 2-point shooting is easily a career high, suggesting his scoring downturn is more about being selective than an inability to create shots.
Not only do Butler’s peripheral stats remain strong, we have ample evidence of “Playoff Jimmy” playing his best when the stakes are the highest. During Butler’s four playoff runs in Miami — before he sat out the Heat’s 2024 first-round loss to the Boston Celtics because of an MCL sprain — he led the NBA with 12.4 wins by my WARP (wins above replacement player) metric over that span.
During the regular season, Butler was just sixth in total WARP during the corresponding seasons. He produced 3.7 more WARP in the playoffs than we’d expect based on his regular-season performance. Only Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was a greater playoff overperformer than Butler from 2020 through 2023.
At some point, Butler’s age (35) will undoubtedly take a toll, explaining Miami’s reluctance to offer him a max extension. Over the next three seasons, my SCHOENE projection system forecasts Butler to decline by about three wins in terms of regular-season value based on the development of similar players at the same age. Though Butler’s 2025-26 projection still puts him in the NBA’s top 20 players, by 2027-28 that forecast drops to 45th. — Kevin Pelton
Because of the league’s Over-38 rule, the maximum extension Miami could sign Butler is for two years, $112.6 million. That would replace his $52.4 million player option for next season with a new salary starting at $54.1 million. The second year would pay Butler $58.5 million when he is 37.
If Butler were traded, he would be eligible to sign a two-year, $111 million extension with his new team.
A trade demand by Butler and now suspension does not mean the Heat are mandated to make a trade. If Miami does not receive an offer of its liking, it can either let Butler walk in free agency if he declines his player option — or work together on a trade.
Butler, who will turn 36 in September, does not fit the roster timeline of the Brooklyn Nets, the only team that projects to have more than $40 million in cap space. — Marks
No. The way things played out with Paul George last season with the LA Clippers is a blueprint for how this situation could unwind over the next few months.
The longstanding paradigm in the NBA in these situations is that the team with a disgruntled player like Butler “has to get something” and trade him somewhere. But that was in a previous financial reality in which the league existed.
Under this far more restrictive collective bargaining agreement, the NBA is operating in what is much closer to a hard cap environment than it used to. So if the process of getting something in a deal requires a team to take back negative long-term salary, that can cause real problems for a club trying to pivot past such a deal in the future. That’s doubly true for the Heat, who remain one of the league’s most desirable destinations for players and want to have as much flexibility to acquire more high-end talent in the future.
That’s one of several reasons why the Heat, according to sources, are reluctant to take back long-term money in a Butler trade. Coupled with the trade restrictions that have made it hard for any big salaries to be moved across the league, sources are far from convinced a deal is guaranteed to happen in the next month. — Bontemps
The recent news of Jimmy Butler’s suspension has sent shockwaves through the NBA community, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering about the future of the star player. Here’s what we know and don’t know about the situation:
What we know:
– Jimmy Butler has been suspended by the Miami Heat for conduct detrimental to the team
– The suspension reportedly stems from a heated exchange between Butler and head coach Erik Spoelstra
– Butler has been a key player for the Heat, leading them to the NBA Finals last season
What we don’t know:
– The exact details of the altercation between Butler and Spoelstra
– How long Butler’s suspension will last and if there will be any further disciplinary actions taken
– The potential impact of the suspension on the Heat’s performance and playoff hopes
– Whether Butler’s future with the team is in jeopardy and if a trade is being considered
As the situation continues to unfold, it’s clear that there are still many unknown factors at play. Fans will have to wait and see how the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler navigate this challenging situation and what it means for the team’s success moving forward. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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Jimmy Butler, NBA, suspension, trade rumors, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA news, sports updates, basketball, player suspension, trade speculation
#Jimmy #Butlers #suspension #trade #dont
The Miami Heat don’t want to extend Jimmy Butler.
Jimmy Butler feels he’s worth an extension or a trade from the Miami Heat.
And what’s more, there are still wounds yet to be healed from Pat Riley to Jimmy Butler, and all this has come to a head over the last few days.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Butler has communicated to the Heat he would like a change of scenery, sources told Yahoo Sports. His first choice in all of this was to stay with the Heat with a contract extension in hand, but Riley has given no indication he’s willing to do that.
The matter of Riley calling out Butler following last season’s finish, basically telling him to “shut up and play,” hasn’t sat well with Butler — along with the insinuation from Heat officials Butler didn’t play hard against New Orleans on Wednesday in his first game back from an illness.
“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball,” Butler told reporters after Thursday night’s game against Indiana, in which he exited with 1:54 left in the third and didn’t return.
”Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”
On Friday night, the Heat announced they were suspending Butler for seven games “for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season.”
“Through his actions and statements,” the team said in a statement, “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.”
This is getting a bit ugly and it doesn’t have to be.
Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 games this season, shooting a career high 55.2 percent from the field on just 10.5 attempts per game.
His six-year stint with Miami is his longest since his first six seasons as a Chicago Bull, and he’s had stops in Minnesota and Philadelphia in between.
Neither party is good with the warm and fuzzy feelings, but this is a relationship business — and Butler has carried undermanned teams to two trips to the NBA Finals and was a hair short of a third in 2022.
In his last two playoff runs, a 39-game sample size, Butler has averaged 27.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals on 48-35-82 splits. Of course he’s a headache and the ultimate mirror to whatever your organization is or isn’t, but the numbers say when he’s healthy, the return is well worth it.
From Butler’s standpoint, particularly in today’s second-apron world, he would feel much better entering his late 30s (he turned 35 in September) not having to deal with the treacherous world of unrestricted free agency, as there aren’t many teams with cash on hand come July.
The teams who could have money, or even move money, aren’t close enough to competing to make it worth Butler’s while — at least not now.
For Miami, it doesn’t want to commit big money in the same restrictive tax apron world to a player who’s had issues with availability the last few years. And Riley had no problem letting Dwyane Wade walk in free agency, not giving LeBron James carte blanche back in their day, and trading Shaquille O’Neal when the big man was on the back end of his career.
But what are the Heat without Butler? The franchise is well-regarded, and head coach Erik Spoelstra is thought of as one of the two best coaches in basketball, routinely doing more with less.
His main cog in that has been Butler, and the Heat have tried to make a Big Three out of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. They are talented, but the conference has gotten considerably tougher at the top in recent years with the Celtics and Knicks loading up, while the Cavaliers have grown internally.
The Heat didn’t acquire Damian Lillard when he wanted out of Portland, or Donovan Mitchell when Utah had him on the trading block, or Bradley Beal — and to be fair, not every team was willing to chat seriously with Miami. The Heat have kept their powder dry, preferring to focus on their own development, but it’s kept them in a spot where they’ve had to overachieve.
Doing just enough is no longer enough, and if Butler saw Paul George get a full max — a player he’s comparable to and even more playoff accomplished than — one can see how he wants to show a new employer he’s worth the market value he’s asking for.
Butler is due $52 million next season, but it sounds like he’ll surely opt-out for a longer contract with more guaranteed money, if not a lower yearly salary. Over the summer, Philadelphia tried to engage Miami on a Butler deal before agreeing to terms with George — Joel Embiid wanted a reunion with Butler and pushed for it, according to sources who spoke to Yahoo Sports over the summer and recently.
It’s easy to see that max slot occupied by George could very well have been Butler’s.
Butler hasn’t given the Heat a list of preferable teams, at least not yet, but one would think Phoenix, Dallas, Houston and Golden State are at or near the top of the list. If one believes Butler is a handful in one way, he’s pretty amenable on the floor. He’s a plug-and-play star who can fit in virtually anywhere, even with the 3-point happy Warriors if they want to make a run at truly giving Stephen Curry a running mate during his golden years.
Making a deal work and worth it for the Heat could be difficult, as the franchise has never truly embraced rebuilding and sits in the sixth spot in the East at 17-15.
Riley telling the vocal Butler to hush was probably the first sign this relationship was headed for a divorce, but there was time to clear the air and move forward for the sake of this season.
To this point, it hasn’t been the case and the noise is getting louder in South Florida.
Neither Butler or Riley is uncomfortable being uncomfortable, which means this could lead to a long standoff or something that mercifully ends very quickly.
Either way, it appears this relationship has run its course, a mark of the new economic reality of the NBA and perhaps an inevitable conclusion of the immovable force linking with the unstoppable object.
After two tumultuous seasons with the Miami Heat, it is becoming increasingly clear that Jimmy Butler’s relationship with the team has run its course. Despite his undeniable talent and leadership on the court, rumors of locker room discord and clashes with teammates have been circulating for months.
Butler, known for his intense work ethic and competitive nature, has reportedly rubbed some of his teammates the wrong way with his demanding demeanor and tough love approach. While his drive to win is admirable, it seems to have created a toxic environment within the Heat organization.
Furthermore, Butler’s on-court performance has been inconsistent at times, leading to questions about his future with the team. With the Heat looking to make a deep playoff run, it may be time for both parties to part ways and move on to new opportunities.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, but it seems clear that their relationship has reached its breaking point.
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#Jimmy #Butlers #relationship #Heat #run
Jimmy Butler caught the NBA world by surprise with his postgame comment regarding his lack of joy on the court with the Miami Heat.
He went a step further to claim he “probably can’t” get the happiness back with the Heat. This caught social media by surprise, but the same cannot seemingly be said about star teammate Tyler Herro. The former Sixth Man of the Year was asked if he was surprised by Butler’s remark postgame.
“Not really,” Herro began. “We’re all trying to find joy in [basketball} at the same time, so we’ll see.”
“I have no clue,” Herro said in regards to how the team should involve Butler more in the offense. “I’m not the coach.”
It’s safe to say the emotions in the Heat’s locker room are at a season high, and the trade deadline is sure to be a chaotic time for team president Pat Riley and the front office.
1. What home court?
In hindsight, maybe the Heat’s underwhelming victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday was a sign of things to come. Miami didn’t blow out or dominate a dismal New Orleans team the way one would expect a healthy Heat team to, especially at home.
Indiana led 38-25 at the end of the first quarter and eliminated any hopes of a Heat comeback with a 41-point third quarter. Tyrese Haliburton scored 33 points and dished 15 assists in making Miami’s defense look lost.
The Heat have been up-and-down all season. It appears the same problems that plagued them in the final months of 2024 are continuing into the first days of 2025.
2. Jimmy Butler stays quiet … too quiet
Butler scored nine points on only five shots Wednesday night, his first game since Dec. 20. It was easy to write off the quiet performance and 25-minute outing as the Heat easing him back into action following the five-game absence.
So much for that idea. Butler recorded nine points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals Thursday night; Indiana outscored Miami by 27 points when Butler was on the court.
The most alarming part is Butler took six shots. Arguably the Heat’s second-best player has only taken 11 shots in his last two games. That’s a massive problem, and it’s one the Heat must address if they intend to keep Butler through the season’s end.
3. Bam is back! Maybe
After two-plus months of offensive regression, the Bam Adebayo of old may finally be back. Adebayo recorded 20 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes Thursday night.
Most importantly, Adebayo hit eight of his 12 shots; the three-time All-Star has made 17 of his last 26 shots, an important achievement given his prolonged shooting issues. On a night with few positives for the Heat, they can at least be encouraged about Adebayo’s offense.
Heat Named One Of The ‘Most Discussed’ Destinations For $163 Million All-Star
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Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro recently spoke out about teammate Jimmy Butler’s lack of joy with the team. In an interview with reporters, Herro expressed his concern for Butler’s demeanor and emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude on the court.
“Jimmy is a great player and leader, but I can see that he’s been feeling a bit down lately,” Herro said. “It’s important for all of us to stay positive and enjoy the game we love playing. We need Jimmy to be at his best, both mentally and physically, in order to succeed as a team.”
Butler, known for his intense work ethic and competitive nature, has been criticized in the past for his serious demeanor on the court. However, Herro believes that finding joy in the game is crucial for maintaining a healthy mindset and achieving success.
“We all want to win and compete at the highest level, but we also need to have fun and enjoy the process,” Herro added. “I hope Jimmy can find that joy again and bring his energy and passion back to the team.”
As the Heat continue their quest for a playoff spot, it will be important for Butler and the rest of the team to find a balance between hard work and enjoyment on the court. Hopefully, Herro’s words will inspire his teammate to embrace a more positive mindset and help lead the team to victory.
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Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, NBA, basketball, player dynamics, team chemistry, sports news, interview, athlete perspective, team culture, Miami Heat controversy, locker room drama
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