The Miami Heat head to the Delta Center on Thursday night to face the Utah Jazz in what will be their fourth game without All-star Jimmy Butler.
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Miami of course suspended Butler last Friday for seven games, citing an infraction of "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team" as the reason. The suspension runs through the end of the Heat's road trip on Jan. 15 and the expectation, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick, is their star will be ready to play.
"While trades can always materialize quickly in the Association, team sources say Miami is prepared to take its time with a Butler trade to maximize its return," Amick wrote in his report. "This was the messaging shared internally after Butler was suspended seven games by the team on Friday for 'conduct detrimental to the team,' and before the Heat embarked on a six-game, 10-day road trip that continues with a game at Utah on Thursday night."
"In the wake of Butler's trade request and subsequent suspension, team officials told Heat players that the prospect of the 35-year-old, six-time All-Star returning to the court with them after the suspension was the most likely next step.
The Miami Heat placed Jimmy Butler on suspension Friday, the day after their 128-115 defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. Butler later expressed unhappiness with his situation during postgame pressers.
"What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we'll find out here pretty soon," Butler said after Thursday's game. "I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I'm not doing that."
When asked if he could find that joy in Miami, he said plainly, "Probably not."
