“Could Seek Trade”: Jimmy Butler to Potentially Demand an Exit if Miami Heat Fail to Make a Deep Playoff Run

Butler and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra nearly battled in the fourth quarter of a blowout defeat against a physically depleted Warriors squad on March 23. It happened during a timeout, and it’s still unclear what Butler said to irritate Spoelstra. Despite missing 26 games, the Heat survived nearly two months without Adebayo, a Defensive Player of the Year contender.

For the first month of Adebayo’s absence, Miami played 12 of 13 games without Butler. Butler was the Heat’s best scorer in 57 games, averaging 21.4 points per game.

Miami Heat Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler, the star of the Miami Heat, has been the subject of a disturbing report. With only a few days until the Heat participates in the NBA Playoffs for the first time in 2022, a rumor suggests Butler may want a move from the team if the team does not do well in the next playoffs.

Jimmy Butler to leave Miami Heat after this season?

Tension has appeared to be boiling beneath the surface at times this season, but the report alters the script significantly moving ahead. When Butler, veteran Udonis Haslem, and head coach Erik Spoelstra got into a clearly heated fight during a game a few weeks ago, it raised a lot of questions.

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“But when Spoelstra’s clipboard hit the floor in Butler’s wake, rival executives and even players on other teams noticed. They began to speculate that in the event of an early playoff exit, the Heat could look to move on from Butler, which is bonkers to even consider, given the three-year, $146 million contract extension they signed him to last summer. Rival players speculated that Butler, worn down by the demands of Heat “culture,” could seek a trade if it doesn’t work out this spring,” Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported.

Miami won’t find out who it will face in the first round until Friday night. The Heat would escape a deadly No. 1-No. 8 showdown between probably the best player in the NBA, Kevin Durant, and lethal wingman Kyrie Irving, if the Brooklyn Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, as projected.

For the opportunity to spend Easter in South Beach, the loser of that game will face the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-Charlotte Hornets game on Friday. The Heat now confronts a postseason that is riddled with potential stumbling blocks. Of course, every club approaching the playoffs is aware of the difficulties that await them. Nonetheless, the Eastern Conference’s competition and quality appear to be at an all-time high this season.