Heat Confirm Jimmy Butler Suspension For ‘Insubordinate Conduct’

The Miami Heat have issued a statement regarding the latest suspension of star forward Jimmy Butler., this one for two games.NBA, Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler, Cavs, Cavaliers

“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct, and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today’s team flight to Milwaukee,” the Heat statement read.

As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, Butler’s suspension will keep him sidelined for the Heat’s upcoming two-game road trip, including matchups against Milwaukee and Brooklyn.

Charania further noted that Butler missed the team flight on Wednesday, originally planning to fly separately and join the squad later, but Heat officials told him to remain home.

The situation is partly due to a “timing element,” according to the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman, as the team had to adjust its travel plans, leaving for Milwaukee earlier than initially scheduled.

This suspension comes on the heels of a previous seven-game suspension Butler served prior to the Heat’s last road trip, and the situation continues to highlight tension between the franchise and its star player.

Butler, who has requested a trade multiple times, has reportedly doubled down on that request in recent meetings with president Pat Riley and team owner Micky Arison.

While the Phoenix Suns are currently seen as the front-runners for Butler’s services, a trade is far from imminent.

The Suns’ recent acquisition of three tradable first-round picks in their deal with Utah has certainly strengthened their position, but a third team will likely need to be involved to make a deal happen. As this plays out, it’s clear that Butler’s time in Miami is running out.

This suspension will cost Butler approximately $671K in lost salary, adding to the $2.35 million he lost during the first suspension, though the players’ union is continuing to contest that decision.

The Heat’s internal and external situation is growing more complicated by the day, and the resolution — whether through trade or further disciplinary action — remains a mystery.

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