"This has turned into an ugly, bitter divorce" - NBA insider reveals Heat's unexpected handling of Jimmy Butler’s suspension announcement

After returning to action following a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, Jimmy Butler played just three games for the Miami Heat before being handed another suspension this week. After a 116-107 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Butler was hit with a two-game suspension.

On Thursday, ESPN's NBA Insider, Shams Charania, on First Take, compared the ongoing feud between Butler and the Heat's front office to a messy divorce while speaking with Stephen A. Smith.

"This has turned into really an ugly, bitter ... end. A divorce to a relationship that overall has been pretty successful. ... Right now, this is a situation where the Heat are putting their foot down on a lot of the stuff. Jimmy Butler has traveled separately away from the team in the past, before at times.

"And he was planning to do the same thing yesterday, joining the team in Milwaukee last night instead of going on the team flight. ... before he even got a chance to do so, I'm told the Heat called him and informed him to stay home, that they don't want him there, and they were suspending him for two games"

Because of the situation, the Heat will not only be without Jimmy Butler when they play the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, they will also be without Butler when they collide with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

Butler will be eligible to return to action on Monday when Miami plays the Orlando Magic, but there's a chance that the six-time All-Star winds up being traded by then.

While Pat Riley and the Heat may be putting their foot down in regards to Butler traveling with the team, the relationship between the two sides seems to be fractured beyond repair.

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Looking at the latest surrounding a potential Jimmy Butler trade to Phoenix amid latest suspension for six-time All-Star

Throughout the ongoing Jimmy Butler trade saga, it has been no secret that the veteran forward is hoping to land with the Phoenix Suns. While the Memphis Grizzlies, for example, had an interest in acquiring Butler, his agent reportedly told the team not to pursue a deal.

The problem, of course, is that to make a trade happen, Phoenix would have to part ways with Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, thanks to the deal he signed with the Washington Wizards.

While there had been some talk surrounding Beal potential waiving the no-trade clause in order for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks to complete a deal that would send Beal to Milwaukee and Khris Middleton to Miami, those reports have since been shut down by Chris Haynes.

On a Wednesday installment of his Haynes Briefs video series on social media, the longtime NBA Insider reported that a connection between Beal and the Bucks is quote, "nonexistant."

Given that, it sounds like if the Suns want to acquire Jimmy Butler, they will have to find another team to help facilitate a deal.

With the NBA's Feb. 6 trade deadline rapidly approaching, only time will tell how this one plays out.