Pat Riley Says Heat ‘Are Not Trading Jimmy Butler’

Miami Heat president Pat Riley says the team will not trade NBA star Jimmy Butler. 

“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement. “Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, Butler prefers a trade out of Miami ahead of the February 6 trade deadline. 

One of the best players in the NBA, Butler is open to trade destinations such as the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets. The Marquette product is making $48.8 million this season

Butler has a $52 million player option for next season. The Heat chose not to sign the future Hall of Famer to an extension in the offseason, a move Butler was not happy with. 

A six-time All-Star, Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks this season while shooting 55.2% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Heat are 14-13 on the season. They are in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Butler joined the Heat in 2019. Miami lost in the 2020 NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, lost in the first round of the 2021 playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, lost in the 2022 conference finals to the Boston Celtics, lost in the 2023 NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets and lost in the first round last season to Boston. 

Butler has played for the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Heat. He has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks. The swingman has made five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive Teams.