Recent trade rumors regarding the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler have reached a fever pitch after it was revealed Wednesday that the six-time All-Star has been suspended for another two games by the franchise.
“The Miami Heat are planning to suspend Jimmy Butler for two games, sources tell ESPN,” shared ESPN’s Shams Charania Wednesday evening.
“Butler missed a team flight Wednesday and had plans to join the Heat tonight.”
“Now Miami is keeping him home from its two-game road trip.”
Butler has now been handed his second suspension after recently serving and ultimately returning from a seven-game shelving due to what the Heat organization described as, “conduct detrimental to the team.”
While Butler’s most recent suspension has been attributed to a missed flight, league insiders have begun to speculate whether Butler is taking a planned hiatus in order for the Heat to finally pull off a blockbuster trade.
“This is 100% strategic for Miami,” ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel shared via Twitter/X Wednesday.
“We may very well be getting a Butler trade over the next few days.”
By suspending the five-time All-Defensive Team selection and 2023 Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Heat team president Pat Riley and general manager Andy Elisburg could indirectly be indicating that they are extremely close to pulling off a potential multiple-team, league-altering trade in the coming days.
The latest reports on Butler give the impression that the Phoenix Suns have become his preferred destination, with the Milwaukee Bucks also possibly getting involved to facilitate a trade.
Wherever Butler ends up after his suspension comes to an end, a seismic shift will be felt throughout the NBA as the league’s most sought-after trade target and one of the most dominant postseason performers in recent memory could be dealt shortly.
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