Jimmy Butler trade situation: Miami Heat considers doubling his fine amid other punitive action

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is set to make his return to action on Friday as his seven-game suspension comes to an end. However, the Heat are reportedly considering changing the designation of his current suspension. Doing so will double the fine for Butler.

As Butler was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team," Associated Press' Tim Reynolds wrote that the six-time All-Star would lose about $336,543 per game. That totaled around $2,355,798 million for the seven games he'll miss.

On Wednesday, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported what the Heat organization is considering doing with Butler's current suspension.

"The Miami Heat consider changing the designation of Jimmy Butler's suspension from 'conduct detrimental to the team' to 'refusing to provide services'," Haynes said.

"Such a change would double the fine tally for Jimmy," Haynes continued. "I'm told that the designation is the same as of right now but it is fluid. This just speaks to how this relationship between Jimmy and Miami has fractured in just a short period of time."

Miami has not finalized whether to change the designation of Butler's suspension. However, the suspension will end on Wednesday as the Heat take on the LA Lakers. Following that, their Friday game against the Denver Nuggets will be the return game for the former 30th pick.

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Jimmy Butler reportedly frustrated with the change of role in the Heat's offense

From afar, the relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat seems unfixable. Each day, a new angle of their beef comes out. This time, The Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang reported that one of Butler's "biggest issues" with the Heat is his role in the offense this season.

According to Chiang, Butler had expressed his displeasure even before the franchise suspended him. Miami cited the star's “inconsistent regular-season availability” for his diminished role in the offense, according to the player's camp, per Chiang.

“After inquiring about Butler’s apparent diminished role in the Heat’s offense, Butler’s camp says it was told by the Heat that some changes were made because his inconsistent regular-season availability made it challenging to build the offense around him,” Chiang wrote. “Butler missed 22 regular-season games last season and 18 regular-season games in 2022-23.”

This season, Butler has played in 22 games and has produced his lowest averages in his tenure with the Heat. He's averaging 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 55.2% shooting.

Before his suspension, the Heat star played two consecutive games where he only finished with nine points. However, according to Chiang, some team members feel Butler's dashing to the corner without the ball diminishes his role.