Jimmy Butler saga takes another twist with superstar's surprising announcement

Butler will start the team’s Friday home game against the Nuggets (24-16, fourth in Western Conference). 

The latest twist ends a dramatic past start to the year for the Heat. Butler requested a trade in early January, expressing his dissatisfaction with the organization.

“I want to get my joy back,“ Butler said. A reporter asked if he could rediscover that feeling in Miami, and the 14-year veteran replied, “Probably not.”

On Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Butler reiterated his trade demand in a face-to-face conversation with team owner Pat Riley last week.

”Butler told Riley that he will not sign a new deal in Miami and that he intends to use his $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season only as a trade maneuver,” Charania wrote.

The Heat suspended him seven games for detrimental conduct earlier this season. That suspension lapsed on Thursday.

Cracks began to surface at the end of the 2023-24 season, when team president Pat Riley offered sharp criticism of the six-time All-Star. Butler missed the team’s 4-1 first-round playoff series loss to the Celtics but was vocal to the media about Miami’s place in the Eastern Conference, to Riley’s chagrin.

“If you‘re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut on the criticism of those teams,” Riley said in May. 

At the time, Riley also was skeptical about handing Butler a two-year extension. “That’s a big decision … to commit those kinds of resources unless you have somebody who’s going to be there and available every single night,” Riley added.

In 22 games this season, Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Heat (20-19, eighth in Eastern Conference) went 3-4 during Butler’s absence.

His on-court production is much-needed, but it’s still fair to wonder how much longer the Heat will be able to stomach the off-court drama.

With Butler reportedly already informing Riley of his plans with his 2025-26 player option, the detente shouldn’t last. Butler might be back, but probably not for long.