Pat Riley says Miami Heat are not trading Jimmy Butler
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ESPN reported over Christmas that six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, 35, was “ready for his exit”.
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MIAMI - Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler isn’t going anywhere, Miami Heat team president Pat Riley announced on Dec 26.
“We usually don’t comment on rumours, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement.
“Therefore, we will make it clear - We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
Multiple media outlets have been reporting for weeks that Butler’s days are numbered in South Beach, where the 35-year-old veteran swingman has played since the 2019-20 season.
ESPN reported over Christmas that Butler was “ready for his exit” and preferred to be dealt before the Feb 6 trade deadline. The report also said the Heat had been listening to trade offers.
Butler is earning US$49 million (S$66 million) this season and has a US$52 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign, which he reportedly intends to decline to become a free agent in July.
Entering Dec 26, Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 20 games (all starts) this season while shooting a career-best 55.2 per cent from the field.
Butler missed the Heat’s last two games with a stomach illness and is listed as doubtful for Dec 26’s night game against the Orlando Magic.
Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 834 games (729 starts) with the Chicago Bulls (2011-17), Minnesota Timberwolves (2017-18), Philadelphia 76ers (2018-19) and Heat. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2015-18, 2020 and 2022. FIELD LEVEL MEDIA
