Jimmy Butler wants to leave the Miami Heat.
There’s not much more to say about the six-time All-Star after a surreal two-minute postgame conference following the Heat’s 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. Butler, playing in his second game since a five-game absence due to illness, scored nine points on 3-for-6 shooting, then sat down and denounced his role and future with the team.
When asked what he wants to see happen, Butler didn’t hold back:
“What do I want to see happen? I want me to get my joy back from playing basketball and wherever that may be, we’ll find out soon. I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here. But I want to be somewhat dominant again I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now I don’t.
When asked if he believes he can get that joy back in Miami, he responded with just two words: “Probably not.”
It was a rough game all around for Butler, who played a different role than usual in his six seasons with the Heat. Miami was outscored by 27 points in his 27 minutes on the court.
Butler had no warm words for the new role:
“I felt great. I felt like I was focused. I felt like I was doing my job, or at least what my job is.”
He also didn’t sound enthusiastic about continuing in that role with the Heat:
“It could be my role here. That’s not what I’m used to. I haven’t been that way since my second, third year in the league where I just went out there and played defense.”
And when told that Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra wanted him to play more at some point to become more “activated,” Butler shot it down:
“That’s not going to solve it.”
There has been smoke surrounding Butler’s situation with the Heat for over a week. At Christmas, it was reported that Butler would favor a trade from the Heat before the February deadline, although he did not make a formal request. Heat president Pat Riley strongly rejected the idea, clearly stating in a statement: “We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
Butler didn’t seem to agree, as he basically shrugged when asked if he wanted to stay with the Heat for the rest of the season. And then, two days later, he told the entire basketball world that he wasn’t enjoying the game and didn’t think it could be solved in Miami.
This wouldn’t be the first time Butler has pursued a departure from a team after deciding his situation wasn’t working out, but the Heat always seemed like an ideal fit for the veteran. The results speak for themselves as the team with him on board has reached the playoffs every season and reached the NBA Finals twice. On the other hand, the Heat fell to 17-15 on Thursday and that hasn’t given much reason to expect anything better going forward, especially if Butler plays a role that doesn’t work for him.
The NBA trade deadline is set for February 6, and Butler gave teams and fans just enough reason to launch their offers.
