“Getting ugly by the minute!” – Heat suspending Jimmy Butler after controversial comments has NBA twitter in flames

Team leader Jimmy Butler has not stopped from declaring after their last game that he wants a trade out of the Miami Heat.

“Getting ugly by the minute!” – Heat suspending Jimmy Butler after controversial comments has NBA twitter in flames

Miami Heat have suspended Jimmy Butler seven games after openly asking for a trade

Jimmy Butler was the heart and soul of the Miami Heat for the past five seasons. He led them to the playoffs in four of them and could have done the same had he not been injured last season. However, during that injury, his comments and the eventual reply from franchise Godfather Pat Riley changed the course of the franchise.

Since Pat Riley asked him to ‘keep his mouth shut’, the situation has changed for the worse. On one hand, the 35-year-old wants a contract extension beyond his player option for 2025-26. On the other hand, Riley does not want to give an aging player $50-60 million a year.

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In the past he has let go of franchise stalwart Dwyane Wade. Therefore, there is no stopping him from doing the same with Jimmy Butler. That led the superstar to be disgruntled, who was hoping to cash in on one last major paycheck.

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After their last game, a visibly upset Butler openly declared that in order to regain his ‘love for basketball’, he needed to be somewhere where he would get that feeling back. That prompted the Miami Heat to release this statement on their X account.

We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks.

Miami Heat on X

The franchise added that they understood through his actions and words that Butler does not want to remain with them. Therefore, they will listen to trade offers for the disgruntled superstar and help make his wish come true.

Fans in shock as Jimmy Butler saga turns ugly

For basketball fans keeping tabs on this matter, they know all too well that Jimmy Butler’s agent had a public spat with ESPN’s Shams Charania about potential interest from the Phoenix Suns. Now, it could come around as the likes of the Suns become one of the few viable destinations.

But what hit fans was the way this was unfolding. Wanting a trade is one thing. By openly discussing it, Butler just made matters worse. Fans took to X to talk about this, examples of which are listed below.

Jimmy Butler will lose approximately $2.35 million in fines due to this suspension. The process of settling that amount could take a long time. But it seems the star just wants to leave the Heat and play on a team that is willing to give him a contract extension.

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This seven games suspension finishes on 15th January, when they play the Los Angeles Lakers. That date is important to the Miami Heat as several players across the league will see their trade restrictions exhausted on that day. Giving the franchise more draft leverage before letting their superstar go.