Heat reportedly suspend Jimmy Butler after missing team flight

The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler for two games after he missed a team flight for a road trip, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Butler missed a flight Wednesday as the Heat traveled to Milwaukee for a Thursday game against the Bucks that will be televised nationally on TNT, according to the report. According to the report, Butler intended to rejoin the team for the game, but will be suspended for the road trip that also includes a Saturday game against the Brooklyn Nets.

The suspension is the second of the season for Butler, who has been thrown into turmoil amid reports he demanded a trade to Miami. The Heat previously suspended Butler on Jan. 3 for seven games, citing “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.”

Jimmy Butler: “I want to find my joy again”

A day before his first suspension, Butler indicated his desire to play for another team during a postgame press conference.

Amid early reports that Butler wanted out, Heat president Pat Riley said in December that “we’re not trading Jimmy Butler.” The team’s stance changed after its initial suspension. In their statement announcing Butler’s seven-game suspension, the Heat also announced that “we will listen to offers.”

Butler’s seven-game suspension was without pay and cost him approximately $2.4 million in salary. The NBPA said it will appeal in hopes of reducing or eliminating the financial penalty.

Butler served the suspension despite the scheduled appeal and returned to play in Miami’s three games since averaging 13 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. For the season, Butler is averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. His points average is the lowest since his third season in the league in 2013-14.

A Heat team that twice advanced to the NBA Finals with Butler got off to a 21-21 start, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday.

Will Heat trade Butler before the deadline?

Butler, 35, has been linked in trade reports to the Phoenix Suns, and there is reportedly a mutual desire between Butler and the Suns to join forces. The Suns reached an agreement with the Jazz on Wednesday to acquire draft capital that could be used to facilitate a deal to acquire Butler.

The NBA trade deadline is February 6. Meanwhile, dysfunction continues to fester within a Heat team that is so proud of its team culture that it brags about it while writing about it on its home court. This is definitely not the team culture the franchise wants to convey.