Report: Jimmy Butler to Start for Heat vs. Nuggets After Suspension Amid Trade Rumors

Jimmy Butler could be back in the Miami Heat's starting lineup two weeks after the team announced they plan to listen to trade offers for him.

Butler is expected to start Friday night against the Denver Nuggets in his first game back from a seven-game team suspension, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, followed up the report by releasing a statement from Butler:

The Heat suspended Butler "for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" the day after he told reporters he didn't know if he could be happy playing in Miami.

Butler has since told the team he wishes to be traded by the Feb. 6 deadline, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania reported that Butler said in a meeting with Heat president Pat Riley that he will not use his 2025-26 player option or re-sign in Miami.

Despite that pressure, Riley "has not shown an urgency" as of Tuesday when talking with other teams about potential trades for Butler, according to Charania.

Riley originally said in a Dec. 26 statement that his team was "not trading Jimmy Butler," but was forced to pivot following Butler's comments and a Jan. 2 report by Charania and Brian Windhorst that he had "indicated" he wanted a trade.

When announced Butler's suspension on Jan. 3, the Heat said in a statement that Butler had shown "he no longer wants to be part of this team."

Despite that statement and the suspension, which is set to cost Butler $2.35 million and will reportedly be contested by the NBPA, it looks like he is on course to re-join the lineup.

The focus on his return will test the concentration of the Heat. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said after Butler's suspension that his goal was to "quiet all the distractions, and Tyler Herro recently commented on the "chaos" surrounding the Heat at home.

Herro has averaged 25.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during Butler's suspension. The Heat will look for him to continue to step up even with Butler back on the court the team works to end a two-game losing skid against Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets.