Jimmy Butler is done with the Miami Heat even before getting the job done he was brought in for. The NBA superstar has called off ties with his current team and his decision is not sitting with the Miami fanbase.
The visibly enraged fans are taking to the streets in response to the sign-off. No, they are not parading in support of Jimmy and asking him to come back. Rather, they are setting a higher standard for subtle discontent. Miami fans have turned against All-Star Jimmy Butler, as evidenced by the recent defacement of his mural in Wynwood. CBS 4 in Miami reported that the artwork now bears a clearance sticker and the word “TRADE!” emblazoned on Butler’s Heat jersey.
The reaction came after Butler expressed his desire to be traded and talked about losing his “joy” for basketball. And that led the artist to make some bold changes to the mural. Now it features an image of Butler wearing a headband that says “I Quit.”
Heat fans are turning on Jimmy Butler 😳 They made a mural calling him a quitter
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 5, 2025
(🎥 @HeatCulture13) pic.twitter.com/wvIbbVRcVc
The misery came in hard for the Texas-born basketball star as the franchise suspended him for seven games, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” This came to a head during the Heat’s tough loss to the Utah Jazz, where player Tyler Herro tried to downplay the internal turmoil as a reason for the defeat. His comments show that the team is trying to keep their spirits up and come together in the face of adversity.
Also Read: Jimmy Butler Drops Cryptic Response On His Future With The Miami Heat, And Fans Are Losing It
Jimmy Butler Is Getting Phoenix Suns’ Interest
The Phoenix Suns are seemingly going after Jimmy Butler, and it seems like owner Mat Ishbia is all in. Reports suggest that he not only wants to trade for Butler but also plans to offer him a lucrative new contract. The idea is to keep him around for the long haul. The recent trade demand from Butler has opened up possibilities. So, the Suns appear to be the frontrunners in this race.
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“Phoenix is widely regarded as the team most interested in trading for Butler and definitely makes sense as a Butler destination from at least one perspective. Suns owner Mat Ishbia is believed to be as willing to sign the 35-year-old to a lucrative new contract as anyone you’ll find,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote in his newsletter.
The Suns are the most aggressive team in trade talks to acquire Jimmy Butler, per @WindhorstESPN:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 5, 2025
– The Heat don’t appear to have any interest in Bradley Beal.
– Butler landing in Phoenix will require Beal waiving his no-trade clause elsewhere in a complicated multi-team deal. pic.twitter.com/8YKZV7GCD0
However, Ishbia’s determination makes Phoenix an attractive destination for Butler. Not just as a temporary fix, but as a place where he could truly settle down and flourish.
“However, the Suns will need to find a third party willing to absorb Beal’s financial burden to facilitate any potential trade for Butler. In addition to Beal’s acceptance of waiving his no-trade clause,” Stein added.
That said, the road to securing Butler isn’t going to be easy. The main hurdle in the trade would be Bradley Beal. He has a massive $50.2 million salary, along with his no-trade clause, which complicates matters tremendously. The Suns need Beal to agree to waive that clause and find another team willing to take on his salary. This complicated financial puzzle makes the Suns’ pursuit of Butler a bit tricky, especially since the Heat recently suspended Butler.
Also Read: Jimmy Butler Claps Back At Heat President Pat Riley Over His Previous Disrespectful Statement
