The Jimmy Butler era in Miami appears to be nearing a conclusion.
The Heat announced on Friday that they have suspended Butler seven games for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."
The Heat also said they will listen to trade offers for their disgruntled star.
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"Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team," the team said in a statement. "Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers."
Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' request for comment.
The National Basketball Players Association released a statement calling Butler's suspension "excessive and inappropriate," and said it plans to file a grievance.
Just last week, team president Pat Riley announced that the Heat were "not trading Jimmy Butler." Riley's proclamation followed a Christmas Day report from ESPN's Shams Charania saying, citing sources, that Butler preferred to be moved before the trade deadline.
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Butler then publicly hinted that he wanted out of Miami following Thursday's 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Butler, who scored nine points on six shots and sat out the entire fourth quarter for a second straight game, told reporters he needed to get his joy back on the court. When asked if he could find that joy with Miami, Butler said, "probably not."
Shortly after Butler's postgame comments, ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported, citing sources, that the six-time All-Star had indicated to the Heat he wanted a trade. The report added that Butler didn't "plan to furnish the Heat with a list of favored destinations" and was "open to playing anywhere other than Miami."
Butler joined the Heat in the summer of 2019 via a sign-and-trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. He had been dealt to the Sixers midseason in 2018-19 after requesting a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Butler led the Heat to three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals in his first four seasons with the team. The Heat fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 Finals, which were held in the Orlando bubble amid the COVID-19 pandemic, before making a historic run as a No. 8 seed to the 2023 Finals, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets.
But when Butler, 35, became eligible for an extension of up to two years and $113 million last offseason, Miami did not offer him one. Riley expressed reservations about giving such a deal to any player who misses a big number of games, and Butler has missed about one of every four contests since he joined the team.
Butler was sidelined for Miami's first-round loss to the Boston Celtics last season due to an MCL injury he sustained during the play-in tournament. After Miami lost the series in five games, Butler said "Boston would be at home" had he played. Riley, when asked about Butler's comments in his end-of-season press conference, said: "If you're not on the court playing against Boston, you should keep your mouth shut."
Charania and Windhorst reported, citing sources, that Riley and Butler's relationship "has yet to recover."
Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 55.2/37.5/78.8 shooting splits in 22 games this season. He has a salary of $48.8 million this season and holds a $52.4 million player option for 2025-26.
Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, or about $2.36 million in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.
The Heat, who sit sixth in the East at 17-15, host the Utah Jazz on Saturday before hitting the road for a six-game West Coast trip. Butler would be eligible to return from his suspension when Miami hosts the Nuggets on Friday, Jan. 17 -- that is, of course, if he isn't traded by then.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 6.