By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Not again, Jimmy Buckets.
After serving a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team several weeks ago, Jimmy Butler will once again sit out the next two games of the Miami Heat after multiple reports confirmed that he was suspended due to missing a team flight.
This is the second time in the past three weeks that Butler has been suspended by the Miami franchise, amid the circulating trade saga that will land him with the Phoenix Suns.
Several weeks ago, Pat Riley, Miami’s president and minority owner, shut down any trade rumors involving Butler and addressed that they are keeping their star until the season ends.
However, that narrative changed quickly when Butler publicly announced that he was no longer happy in Miami and hinted that he wanted to be traded.
A day after the development, the Heat announced that they are ready to entertain any trade proposal packages involving Butler, before the NBA trade deadline expires on February 7, 2025.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the main factor that caused Butler to come up with a trade decision was the Heat organization’s failure to meet his desired contract extension paycheck.
Butler only has a remaining $52 million worth of player option, and Charania confirmed that the swingman does not plan to sign the extension.
Several reports already revealed that the Suns and the Heat are nearing a deal that would send Butler to Arizona, but the Phoenix front office has yet to comment on whether they are really engaged in such talks.
Butler is currently having a rough start this NBA season and is only averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in just 25 games played.
