Report: Jimmy Butler sent clear message in meeting with Pat Riley

Jimmy Butler will be eligible to return to the Miami Heat on Thursday following the completion of his suspension, but he reportedly has no interest in remaining with the team through the remainder of the season.

Butler reiterated that he wants to be traded during a meeting he had last week with Heat president Pat Riley, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. The 35-year-old made it clear that there is no chance of him signing an extension with Miami.

Butler has a $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He reportedly told Riley that he is only planning to use the player option as a tool to maneuver a trade out of Miami.

A recent report claimed the Heat expect Butler to return to the team and play once his suspension is up, rather than remain away from basketball activities in hopes of being traded ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. It is unclear if Butler, who is owed the remainder of his $48.8 million salary for this season, plans to cooperate.

The situation between Butler and the Heat has seemingly gotten uglier by the day. A new report said there has been a troubling pattern of behavior with Butler in Miami dating back at least a year. A Heat legend also claimed over the weekend that Butler faked an illness in order to skip a recent game.

Butler, who is averaging 17.6 points per game this season, went to great lengths to force a trade from one of his previous teams. He is clearly committed to doing the same in Miami.