Jimmy Butler Has Telling Comment On Future With Heat

01/02/2025 11:29 PM

Last week, the Miami Heat announced that they would not be trading Jimmy Butler.

We're not sure if they have changed their minds since then, but it sounds like Butler is going to make it so they have no choice. According to a new report from ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst, Butler has told the Heat he wants to be traded and is open to playing "anywhere other than Miami."

Couple that report with Butler's comments following tonight's 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers and well, it's tough to see the six-time All-Star in a Heat uniform beyond next month's trade deadline.

"I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon," Butler said, via ESPN. "I'm happy here off the court but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win and right now I'm not doing it."

When asked if he could retrieve his joy in Miami, Butler, who scored just nine points Thursday night, responded "probably not."

According to Charania and Windhorst, one issue that spurred Butler to request a trade was the suggestion from Heat officials that the veteran wing did not play his hardest in the team's win on Wednesday night. 

Nevertheless, Butler will continue participating in all team activities and "will plan to do whatever the Heat ask of him during this process."

Last week, on Christmas Day, Charania reported that Butler wanted out of Miami and listed the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns as potential destinations, prompting a response from Heat team president Pat Riley.

"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. Therefore, we will make it clear - We are not trading Jimmy Butler," Riley said.

We'll see if that remains true in the coming weeks.

Related: Miami Heat Announce Decision On Possible Jimmy Butler Trade