Heat Insider Pinpoints When Jimmy Butler-Heat Relationship Changed

Jake Elman | Jan 26, 2025

Nov 6, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) chase a loose ball during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat has gradually collapsed for weeks, if not months.

Heat insider Ethan Skolnick thinks he knows exactly when things changed beyond repair.

“Something happened after Phoenix visited the [the Heat] on December 7,” Skolnick said on Saturday’s Five on the Floor. “Something happened.”

Butler recorded 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists in a 121-111 Heat win that night. 

Interestingly, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported Dec. 11 that Butler had indicated he’d be open to joining the Suns. Charania initially linked Butler to the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets one day earlier. 

The Butler trade rumors began in earnest when the sides failed to reach a contract extension. Heat president Pat Riley publicly criticized Butler’s durability during an end-of-season press conference last spring.

“The Heat maintain that they thought after a very strong training camp, Jimmy was going to play this season [and] play hard,” Skolnick added.

Instead, the last month has featured two suspensions, a trade request, a public feud between Riley and Butler, and the Heat hovering around .500. 

Butler and the Suns have been repeatedly linked in recent weeks. The Suns already have superstars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, and they have a tradable asset (financially speaking) in Bradley Beal. 

However, Beal has a no-trade clause, and it’s unclear if he would waive it to join the Heat.

HEAT NOT GIVING UP YET

The Miami Heat aren’t ready to wave the white flag just yet.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Saturday the Heat haven’t let their nonstop obstacles change their overall plans. Injuries, inconsistent veteran performances, and the nonstop Butler drama have derailed the Heat all season.

“The Heat, to be clear, remain focused on competing for the playoffs … rather than straying into lottery land,” Fischer wrote.

Miami entered play Sunday in eighth place in the East. They’re only 1.5 games back of the Pacers and the fifth seed; the top six teams automatically make the playoffs. 

Heat fans shouldn’t be surprised by Fischer’s report, though whether or not they approve is another conversation. The Heat have signaled all season, even when the Butler drama reached its lowest points (thus far), that they don’t intend on tanking or quitting.

No, the Heat likely aren’t an NBA Finals team. They may not even be capable of advancing past the Play-In Tournament, especially if they keep Butler past the Feb. 6 deadline and the two sides can’t temporarily mend the fence.

However, the Heat will go down fighting rather than playing out the string. Let us know in the comments if you agree with their plans or if you think they should begin focusing on next year—and the post-Butler era.

LEE DEFENDS BUTLER

Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, is publicly firing back and defending his client once again.

The Heat suspended Butler earlier this week after he missed a team flight. Former NBA champion Channing Frye claimed on the Road Trippin’ podcast that sources told him the Heat spent “a couple of hours” on the tarmac waiting on Butler. 

“This time, Jimmy held up the whole plane because he didn’t want to communicate,” Frye said on the Road Trippin’ podcast. 

Lee disputed Frye’s claims in an X (formerly Twitter) post Saturday morning.

“This is just stupid and not that it needs to be said but 1000 pct did not happen,” Lee wrote.

Lee also fired a shot at Heat legend Tim Hardaway Sr. The elder Hardaway publicly sided with Heat president Pat Riley in the Butler saga earlier this month.

“Who lifted the all of us agreed upon Tim Hardaway radio embargo and how did I miss that memo?” Lee asked.

Neither Frye nor Hardaway had responded as of publication.

Lee previously battled ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania last month. The veteran agent questioned Charania’s credibility and integrity after a report Butler preferred a trade.

Butler subsequently requested a trade Jan. 2.

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Jake Elman works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at jakeelman97@gmail.com or follow him on X @JakeElman97.