Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with Miami Heat has been turbulent.
The team recently suspended the six-time all-star for the second time in three weeks-a decision, which further burned the belief that Butler has already played his last game for the franchise.
Butler drew the latest suspension of what the team in a statement on Wednesday called a “Continued Pattern for Ignoring Team Rules, Insubordinated Behavior and Behavior Harmful to the Team”, including missing out on Heat’s flight to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The heat was scheduled to play Bucks on Thursday before traveling to New York for a matchup with Brooklyn Nets on January 25.
During Thursday’s edition of TNT’s long -standing “Inside the NBA”, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith discussed the drama around Butler.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Miami Heat Forward Jimmy Butler (22) goes off the field after the match against Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena. (Rick osentoski-stated images)
O’Neal claimed that it is “human nature” for butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is taken into account.
“I just think in this situation, it’s more about human nature,” noted O’Neal. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels I have been in this situation many times. All that I have done for you and you will not give me what I want so that human nature kicks in … part in hate By this business with basketball -Ting, it must always be anyone.
Jimmy Butler plays in Suns-theme sneakers hours after Phoenix acquires trade assets
Butler, 34, has a year left on his deal and has an option of $ 52 million for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible for a two-year extension of $ 113 million. However, it does not appear that the heat expanded such an offer to Butler, largely because he has missed about 25 percent of the team’s games since he arrived in 2019.
Nevertheless, Johnson, Barkley and Smith expressed all the views that opposed O’Neal’s thoughts.
TNT NBA-TIP-OFF PRODUCED BY CARMAX MISSIONS LIVE BEFORE THE GAME ONLY October 24, 2023, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
“You just can’t meet up to work,” Barkley replied.
“You took $ 50 [million] For this year and next year, Smith added.
While Johnson typically acts as a referee when the trio of NBA players engage in exciting exchanges on the show, he challenged O’Neal after four times the NBA player doubled in his position.
“You don’t feel a responsibility when you’re under contract this season to play this season?” Johnson asked.
Jimmy Butler, #22 of Miami Heat, prepares to shoot a free throw against Washington Wizards on February 2nd 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC (Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images)
Barkley also suggested that Butler owed it to the fans and his teammates to put aside his feelings over the contract situation and do his part to help Heat Win games.
“You can get angry with the Miami Heat organization, but fans of Miami and these guys in the dressing room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”
Butler was banished in seven games earlier this month and cost him about $ 2.4 million in salary.
Money may not be the only factor that contributes to Butler’s accident. Butler has made it no secret that he is not happy with what he says is his new role in the heat. He did not participate in his usual way during the introduction of Heat Starters in a recent game, and he has sometimes sat even in times in timeouts while not participating in hugs.
Butler told The Heat in recent weeks he wants a trade, according to several reports. Demand has not been in public because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. NBA’s trade deadline is February 6th.
