Jimmy Butler is reportedly expected to start for the Miami Heat on Friday as they face off against the Denver Nuggets. This matchup marks his return following a suspension, which came after the Heat acknowledged his request for a trade, as reported by Chris Haynes.
The Heat suspended Butler for the last seven games, citing behavior that was considered detrimental to the team’s performance. During his absence, Miami managed a record of 3-4, struggling to find their rhythm.
Initially, there were doubts about Butler’s future with the team. However, with no trade finalized and none imminent, the Heat have not included him on the injury report for the upcoming game against Denver, signaling their expectation for his participation.
If he is absent from the injury report, it indicates the team’s confidence in Butler’s return to the court.
Butler did not travel with the Heat during their recent six-game road trip, which included stops in Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, and Los Angeles. The team had no practice session on Thursday and was scheduled for a walk-through before facing the Nuggets.
Anticipation surrounds Butler’s meetings with team officials on Thursday and Friday, including a likely discussion with head coach Erik Spoelstra. After a disappointing loss to Indiana on January 2, Butler expressed his frustrations about his current role and mentioned a loss of joy while playing in Miami.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler stated. “I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
The relationship between Butler and the Heat has been a topic of concern for weeks. The team suffered a 128-115 defeat to Indiana, where Butler scored only nine points and did not play in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game.
Following this loss, the Heat announced Butler’s suspension, contradicting earlier statements from team president Pat Riley, who assured that Butler would not be traded. Trade discussions have been ongoing since then.
Butler has been a standout player for the Heat, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances. He was eligible for a two-year, $113 million contract extension last summer, but the lack of an offer has strained his relationship with the organization.
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Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat
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