Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with the Miami Heat has been turbulent.
The team recently suspended the six-time All-Star for the second time in three weeks, a decision that fueled the belief that Butler already played his last game for the franchise.
Butler received the last suspension so the team in a statement called on Wednesday a “continuous pattern of contempt of the rules of the team, insubordinate behavior and harmful behavior for the team”, including the loss of the flight of the Heat to Milwaukee that same day . The Heat planned to play against the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a confrontation against the Brooklyn Nets on January 25.
During the Thursday edition of the long -lasting program “Inside The NBA” by TNT, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith talked about the drama that surrounds Butler.
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Miami Heat Jimmy Butler striker (22) leaves the court after the match against Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osantoski-Imagn images)
O’Neal argued that it is “human nature” that Butler wants to land in another team when the situation of his contract is taken into consideration.
“I think that in this situation it is more about human nature,” O’Neal said. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I have been in this situation many times. Everything I have done for you, and you don’t want to give me what I want, so human nature comes into action …” the part that I hate of this Basketball issue is that it always has to be someone’s blame. ”
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Butler, 34, has a year left and has a player option of 52 million dollars for the 2025-26 season. It is eligible for an extension of two years and $ 113 million. However, it does not seem that the Heat has extended such an offer to Butler, largely because about 25 percent of the team’s games has been lost since it arrived in 2019.
However, Johnson, Barkley and Smith expressed views that opposed O’Neal’s thoughts.
The TNT NBA Tip-off presented by Carmax is broadcast live before the game on October 24, 2023 at the Ball Arena de Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via getty images)
“You can’t simply not get to work,” Barkley replied.
“You took the $ 50 [million] For this year and next, “Smith added.
While Johnson normally acts as an arbitrator when the trio of NBA players file animated exchanges in the program, he challenged O’Neal after the four -time NBA player doubled his position.
“Don’t you feel the responsibility of playing this season when you have a contract this season?” Asked Johnson.
Jimmy Butler, number 22 of the Miami Heat, prepares to launch a free kick against the Washington Wizards on February 2, 2024 in Capital One Arena in Washington, DC (Kenny Giarla/NBAE via getty images)
Barkley also suggested that Butler owes fans and his companions to put aside his feelings about the situation of the contract and do his part to help the Heat win games.
“You can get angry with the Miami Heat organization, but Miami fans and those boys in that locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”
Butler was suspended for seven games earlier this month, which cost him around $ 2.4 million in salary.
The money may not be the only factor that contributes to Butler’s unhappiness. Butler has not left secret that he is not satisfied with what he says is his new role within the Heat offensive. He did not participate in his usual way during the presentation of the HEAT holders in a recent game, and sometimes sat alone during dead times while he did not participate in the meeting.
Butler told the Heat in the last weeks that an exchange wants, according to multiple reports. The demand has not been made publicly, because the NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The deadline for NBA changes is February 6.
