The Miami Heat will not be trading Jimmy Butler, according to team president Pat Riley.
Rumors have been swirling for weeks the Heat would be willing to move their star forward to another team, and those talks were elevated when ESPN reported on Wednesday the six-time All-Star wanted to be out of Miami before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. With rumors heating up, Riley opted to give a statement on the team currently unwilling to move Butler.
‘We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler,’ the statement read.
Butler is in the second year of a three-year, $146 million contract but can opt out of the final year of his deal and become a free agent this summer, meaning Miami would be unable to get any return should he decide to leave the franchise in the offseason. Butler is reportedly seeking max yearly salary in a new deal, so if the Heat trade him, they would likely need to move him to a team that is confident it can re-sign him.
One of the league’s best defensive and postseason performers, Butler has been in Miami since 2019 and has led them to the 2020 and 2023 NBA Finals, as well as another Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
This season, Butler is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in his sixth season with the franchise. Miami is currently 14-13 on the season and sixth in the Eastern Conference.