Jimmy Butler May Return to Heat Amid Trade Request

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler could be returning to action for the Miami Heat when they host the Denver Nuggets on Friday, as he isn’t listed on the Heat’s injury report for the game.

If Butler plays, it would mark his first appearance since the Heat confirmed he requested a trade and suspended him for seven games due to conduct deemed detrimental to the team. Miami went 3-4 during his absence.

The suspension raised questions about Butler’s future with the Heat, but with no trade imminent, the team did not include him on the injury report, signaling his potential return. Butler missed the Heat’s recent six-game road trip, which included stops in Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, and Los Angeles.

Butler was expected to meet with team officials Thursday and Friday, including head coach Erik Spoelstra. In a Jan. 2 press conference following a loss to Indiana, Butler expressed frustration with his role and said he had lost his “joy” playing in Miami. “I want to get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be,” Butler said. “I want to hoop and help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”

The relationship between Butler and the Heat has deteriorated, with sources telling ESPN‘s Shams Charania that Butler reiterated his trade request to team president Pat Riley last week. The Heat suspended Butler after he scored just nine points and played zero seconds in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. This marked a reversal from Riley’s December statement that Butler would not be traded.

Trading Butler, however, is complicated. New collective bargaining agreement rules make acquiring large contracts more challenging. Butler is earning nearly $49 million this season, with a $52 million option for next season. At 35, he is averaging 17.6 points per game, his lowest since his third NBA season, but is shooting a career-best 55% from the field.

Butler was instrumental in leading the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances. However, his relationship with the organization soured after Riley announced last spring that the team would not extend his contract before the 2024-25 season. Butler could have secured an extension worth up to $113 million over two years.