MIAMI – The ongoing drama between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler may be coming to a head.
On Monday, the latest domino fell as the star continues to hope and wait for a trade out of Miami, and once again it’s the team taking disciplinary action against Butler.
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The Heat are suspending Butler indefinitely, Local 10′s Will Manso has confirmed.
Initially reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, this is due to Butler walking out of a Heat practice Monday morning after being informed he was being replaced in the starting lineup by Haywood Highsmith.
Jimmy Butler walked out of Heat shootaround this morning after being informed the team is planning not to start him -- with Haywood Highsmith starting -- moving forward, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/8I31eT524l
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2025
Butler had previously been suspended twice by the Heat over the past month, once for seven games due to conduct deemed detrimental to the team and a second time, this one for two games, for missing a team flight to Milwaukee last week.
He was set to return to Miami’s lineup Monday night when they host the Orlando Magic at Kaseya Center.
The Heat released a statement Monday afternoon which read:
“The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler without pay effective immediately for an indefinite period to last no fewer than five games. The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services. This includes walking out of practice earlier today.”
We’ll see how this plays out with the NBA Trade Deadline coming up next week, on Thursday, Feb. 6.