Follow usThe Miami Heat are once again navigating turmoil surrounding Jimmy Butler, as the star forward was suspended for two games after missing the team flight to Milwaukee. This marks his second suspension of the season, with the first lasting seven games due to conduct detrimental to the team.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra addressed the situation before Thursday’s matchup against the Bucks, emphasizing that dealing with distractions is part of life in the NBA.
Jimmy Butler’s trade wish list is simply to leave Miami, as long as he’s not traded to Memphis, per @MarcJSpears
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 23, 2025
“Get used to it. Get over it,” Spoelstra said. “This is the NBA life; this is the life we chose. If you think it’s going to be predictable, you’re really mistaken.”
Butler, 35, reportedly requested a trade from Miami, and while the Heat have been open to listening to offers, no deal has materialized. The team is now preparing to play without him once again as they face the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets on this two-game road trip.
Despite the ongoing drama, Spoelstra remains focused on keeping his squad locked in. “Nothing changes in terms of the task at hand,” he said. “We have enough continuity, we know what our identity is at this point. We’ve had this happen all season long, so we know what we need to do to make those adjustments.”
Teammates, including Tyler Herro, are also staying composed amid the uncertainty. “It’s probably not the easiest to work with someone who’s going to be in and out in any job,” Herro admitted. “We love Jimmy; we’d love for him to be here. I love Jimmy.”
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