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Despite his return to the court, the Heat are still looking for trade opportunities for their star forward Jimmy Butler, NBA insider Marc Stein reports.
“Butler is indeed an active member of the Heat once again, but league sources stress that Miami is determined to keep exploring trade possibilities between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline amid real concerns that there is a considerable amount of season left to navigate to co-exist for two parties that would prefer an immediate separation,” Stein wrote.
The Heat suspended Butler for seven games after “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team,” after he showed that he “no longer” wanted to be part of the organization.
Jimmy played his first game back on Friday in a 133-113 loss to the Nuggets. He went 7-15 from the field and finished the night with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and a turnover.
“I guess it’s basketball at this point,” Butler told reporters after the game. “I know what I’m expected to do while I’m here and try to do that to the best of my ability, but we are where we are.”
He also made it clear that his issues don’t lie with his teammates.
“It felt good to get out there and compete and actually run around with these guys,” Butler said. “As much as everybody may think, I don’t got a problem with these guys. These guys are cool. They’re my friends. … My beef is not with them and never will be. Never has been. But it did feel good to get out there and play some basketball.”
When Jimmy was asked what would happen if he was still on the team Feb. 7, he smiled and said, “We’re playing a lot of ‘what-ifs,’ ain’t we? I’m going to hoop.”
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