On Friday, the Miami Heat announced that they have suspended forward Jimmy Butler for seven games due to “multiple instances of behavior that is harmful to the team throughout the season, especially in recent weeks.”

The team remarked, “His words and actions indicate he no longer wants to be a part of this team.”

This statement did not specify an individual from the organization and concluded by stating, “Butler and his agent have expressed their desire to be traded, and we will consider offers.”

This suspension will result in a financial loss of $2.35 million for Butler, who has the option to challenge this decision. The National Basketball Players Association has announced they will do so, labeling the suspension as “excessive and inappropriate.”

Tensions had been rising, and the Heat appeared dissatisfied with Butler’s performance during their 119-108 win over New Orleans on Wednesday, where he only scored nine points on five attempts, alongside four rebounds and two assists. This game was his first after a two-week absence due to illness, yet he did not play in the last quarter.

Following that game, discussions about a potential suspension arose, and then the Heat lost to the Indiana Pacers the following day.

On December 26, amid rising speculation about Butler’s future, Heat president Pat Riley asserted, “Let me be clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

Riley seemed committed to keeping Butler on the team for the rest of the season, especially since the Heat, with a record of 17-15, are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference. They are among several teams around the .500 mark, vying for a playoff position or could end up in the play-in games.

However, the situation has shifted.

This season, Butler’s role is reduced, contributing to his visible frustration. He averaged an impressive 20.8 points on 13.2 shots with a shooting rate of 49.9% last season, accompanied by 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game with a usage rating of 23.5.

In contrast, this season Butler is at 17.6 points, shooting 55.2% but with only 10.5 shots per game and a usage rating of 20.3. His average minutes have declined from 34 per game last season to 30.8 this season. Nonetheless, the Heat perform better with Butler on the floor, outscoring opponents by 4.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court compared to being outscored by less than one point when he’s sitting out.

After the game against the Pacers, Butler told the media, “I want to reclaim my enjoyment in playing basketball. Whatever that may be, we will discover soon enough. I feel content off the court, but I want to regain my dominant form, help my team win, and at the moment, I’m not achieving that.”

Can he find that joy again with the Heat? “Probably not,” remarked Butler.

Butler is signed through the 2025-26 season at a salary of $52.4 million but holds a player option to enter free agency after this season.

Recently, Butler was out for five games from December 21 to December 29 due to illness before returning on Wednesday, and now he will miss games until January 15, which includes a six-game West Coast trip.