'We are not trading Jimmy Butler' - Pat Riley issues statement in light of rampant trade rumors

Originally posted on Basketball Network | By Adel Ahmad | Last updated Dec 26, 2024 4:31 PM ET

Pat Riley has made the Miami Heat's decision on Jimmy Butler crystal clear: The six-time NBA All-Star will not be traded.

"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," he said in a statement.

A rejected trade demand?

Yesterday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Butler prefers to be traded by the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The Heat star reportedly has the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns as his desired trade destinations.

In light of Riley's comments, it doesn't appear that the five-time All-NBA forward will see his wish to be traded granted this season. Butler has a player option for the 2025-26 season and can opt to enter free agency in July.

"I actually like it," said Jimmy of hearing his name in all the recent speculation. "It's good to be talked about. I don't think there's such a thing as bad publicity — to a point."

The Miami Heat shared this statement from Pat Riley saying the team is not trading Jimmy Butler. pic.twitter.com/LX1xoDhtho
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2024

An up-and-down timeline

The 35-year-old joined the Heat as a free agent in 2019. In his first season with the franchise, Butler helped Miami pull off series victories against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks featuring then-reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Boston Celtics en route to an NBA Finals appearance.

The Marquette University product led the Heat to another Finals appearance in 2023. He sat out of last season's playoffs with a sprained MCL. And so far this season, with Miami idling in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings and tensions simmering between the two sides, how the remainder of the season unfolds will be something worth closely monitoring.

Jimmy reportedly did not attend Riley's Christmas Day party and was the only member of the Heat who wasn't in attendance. The star forward was also reportedly disgruntled with the team earlier this month for not publicly denying reports saying he wanted to be traded.

Considering Butler and the Heat failed to reach a long-term extension last offseason and speculation of the 35-year-old's future engulfing the team this season, all signs point to an eventual ugly divorce.

This article first appeared on Basketball Network and was syndicated with permission.

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