NBA Rumors: Jimmy Butler Expected to Play for Heat After Suspension If Not Traded

Following Jimmy Butler's team-issued seven-game suspension, the Miami Heat are expecting him to return to the team and play in games if he is not traded, according to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang.

Miami is continuing to listen to trade offers involving Butler, with the Phoenix Suns among the teams showing interest. However, the Heat are not interested in taking on Bradley Beal's no-trade clause, which would likely need to be part of any deal.

Multiple sources reported that Butler had been disappointed when Miami declined to offer him a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer, which would have kept him with the team through the 2026-27 season, per Chiang.

The Heat announced Butler's suspension on social media last Friday, citing "conduct detrimental to the team" as the reason.

"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 wrote.

The suspension came after Butler said in a postgame interview that he would "probably not" be able to regain his joy of basketball if he remained on the Heat's roster.

"I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball," Butler said after the Heat's home loss to the Indiana Pacers. "And wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon, I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here — off the court. But I want to be back to someone dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that."

The suspension will cost Butler about $2.4 million in salary, per Chiang.