PHOENIX SUNS

Jimmy Butler not listed on Heat’s injury report as suspension ends

Jan 17, 2025, 7:31 AM

Fans hold up a portrait of Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the second half of an NBA basketb...

Fans hold up a portrait of Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is expected to play for Miami again Friday when it hosts the Denver Nuggets, a game that would be his first since the Heat confirmed that he wants a trade and that they are trying to accommodate that request.

Butler was suspended by the Heat for their most recent seven games, the club citing conduct that it deemed detrimental to the team. Miami went 3-4 in those contests.

And when the suspension was issued, it wasn’t clear if Butler would play for Miami ever again. But with no trade in place — and evidently without one in the foreseeable future, either — the Heat did not list Butler on their injury report for the game with the Nuggets.

In short, if he’s not on that list, it means the Heat expect Butler to play.

Butler, who Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reports is interested in joining the Phoenix Suns, was not with the team on its six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland and then Los Angeles for games against both the Clippers and Lakers. The Heat did not practice Thursday and were planning a walk-through Friday afternoon before the Denver game.

Butler was expected to meet with some team officials Thursday and Friday. It’s likely that he will also meet with coach Erik Spoelstra, given comments Butler made in his most recent session with reporters after a loss to Indiana on Jan. 2. He expressed frustration with his role and said he’s lost his on-court “joy” in Miami.

“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”

Tensions between Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler remain as his suspension ends

The relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks now — has never been worse. The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Jan. 2, Butler scoring exactly nine points and playing exactly zero seconds in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game.

The next day, the Heat issued the suspension and reversed course from a statement team president Pat Riley made in December vowing that Butler would not be traded.

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

The team has been engaging in trade talks since.

But trading Butler is complicated, with new rules in the collective bargaining agreement putting more issues in place for teams to address when acquiring big contracts — and he’s making nearly $49 million this season, with an option to make $52 million next season. The Suns, for example, could not acquire Butler without trading Bradley Beal, who has the added complication of a no-trade clause on his contract.

He’s 35 years old and is averaging 17.6 points this season. On the one hand, that’s his lowest average since his third season in the NBA more than a decade ago. On the other, he’s shooting a career-best 55% this season.

Butler was the best player on two Heat teams that went to the NBA Finals. He was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension starting last summer. The relationship between Butler and the Heat soured when that deal was not offered to him.

Phoenix Suns

Kevin Durant #35 and Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at ...

David Veenstra

Suns list Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal questionable for Friday’s game vs. Jazz

The Phoenix Suns listed Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as questionable for Friday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

16 hours ago

General manager James Jones of the Phoenix Suns talks during a press conference introducing Kevin D...

Brandon Cadiz

The 5: Most recent trade deadlines for Phoenix Suns under James Jones

The Phoenix Suns' last five trade deadlines is headlined by the acquisition of Kevin Durant in 2023. We revisit the last five deadlines.

19 hours ago

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams o...

David Veenstra

2025 NBA All-Star Draft results: Kevin Durant lands on Team Shaq

Upon the change in format to the NBA All-Star Game, the league had its captains draft their teams on Thursday. Kevin Durant landed on Team Shaq.

20 hours ago

Suns...

Damon Allred

After the trade deadline, where are the Phoenix Suns slated to pick in upcoming drafts?

The Suns again shuffled the decks of their future picks, and the lack of a bigger deal at Thursday's NBA trade deadline left them poised to make two selections in this summer's draft.

21 hours ago

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns unable to make big move at trade deadline with foreboding summer ahead

The Phoenix Suns wanted to make major moves at the trade deadline. They were not able to, and in some ways, were saved from themselves.

21 hours ago

NBA...

Alex Weiner

NBA trade deadline recap: Suns’ Western Conference competition make blockbuster moves

A jam-packed NBA trade deadline has passed, ending months of Phoenix Suns speculation while many teams in the West added to their rosters.

23 hours ago

Jimmy Butler not listed on Heat’s injury report as suspension ends