The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler drama continues to dominate headlines in the NBA and new information has surfaced that tells the story of just how fractured Butler and the Heat have been for some time.
According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, Butler, who is currently serving a team imposed seven-game suspension, would skip “morning shootarounds” and insisted “on private flights separate from Miami’s team charter.”
“Now it’s Pat Riley’s front office that has shown it will no longer tolerate Butler’s freestyling, announcing to the world on Jan. 3 that the six-time NBA All-Star has been suspended for ‘conduct detrimental to the team.’” Fischer reported.
“Among Butler’s transgressions, according to league sources, have been multiple instances of Butler skipping out on morning shootarounds altogether and insisting on private flights separate from Miami’s team charter. Former Heat star Tim Hardaway Sr. told Sirius XM NBA Radio over the weekend that Riley sent a 10-page letter to the players’ association detailing Butler’s missteps.”
It appears that the Butler/Heat relationship is heading towards a direction of no repair, and with trade rumors swirling that Butler will force his way to eventually play for the Phoenix Suns, the time could be near.
Miami has not received any offer that they like for Butler, and a potential trade with Phoenix, who would need to trade Bradley Beal to make a Butler acquisition work, seems to hinge on the involvement of a third team to make it happen.