Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has had additional conversations with team president Pat Riley that he is not interested in seeking an extension, and has demanded a trade.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, in a face-to-face meeting with Riley last week Butler reiterated that he wants to be traded and will not sign a new contract with the Heat. Butler reportedly told Riley that he won’t sign an extension and added that he “intends to only use his $52 million player option in the offseason for 2025-26 as a trade maneuver.”
It was reported last month that the 35-year-old Butler would prefer to be moved by the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, after Butler and the Heat were unable to come to terms on a contract extension this past summer. After Riley issued a statement in December stating “We are not trading Jimmy Butler,” Butler responded a week later, saying, “I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we’ll find out pretty soon. I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
The Heat suspended Butler for seven games on Jan. 3 for “conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks” but added in a statement: “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.” The seven-game suspension cost Butler $2.35 million in salary; however, the NBA Players Association field a grievance and released a statement calling the discipline “excessive and inappropriate.”
Butler, who is eligible to return to the Heat on Thursday, is in the final year of a $49 million contract this season. He is averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 22 games.
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