Report: Heat members ‘don’t want’ Butler to return after suspension

The Miami Heat are fearing the expected return of Jimmy Butler after a seven-game suspension Friday against the Denver Nuggets, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

The widespread concern would revolve around what Butler might do and how any resulting chaos would impact the team environment.

Players, coaches and staff members are apparently tired of Jimmy Butler’s antics during the ongoing standoff between him and the team. However, a source close to Butler told Shelburne that “Jimmy hasn’t even really started.”

“I don’t know how he can get back in that locker room,” a source close to the team said in Shelburne.

“We don’t want him back,” another person said.

Still, Butler is not listed on Miami’s injury report Friday, and the team is ready for him to play, according to Shelburne.

The Heat suspended the six-time All-Star on Jan. 3 for “multiple” instances of conduct detrimental to the team.

Butler claimed he lost his “joy” of playing basketball after a loss to the Indiana Pacers on January 2. He also said it probably wouldn’t come up again with the Heat.

Butler has not publicly requested a trade, but he reportedly requested a trade during a face-to-face meeting with Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley. He apparently intends to use his upcoming $52 million player option as a trade maneuver.

“There’s an expectation of how we compete and how we compete for each other,” Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said six days after Butler’s suspension was announced, according to Shelburne. “Off the field there is a certain level of professionalism and a standard.”

Spoelstra continued: “We’re not for everyone. Some people are drawn to that, some people aren’t. We make no apologies for that.”

Butler is having his worst statistical season since joining Miami in the 2019 offseason, averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 22 games.

Heat leading scorer Tyler Herro believes the team has rallied in Butler’s absence.

“We’ve had enough, and that’s all that matters,” Herro said last week.

Miami has gone 3-4 in Butler’s absence and sits in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.