Jimmy Butler plans to play for the Miami Heat on Wednesday. After that, his future is uncertain.
The good news for the Heat is that Butler said he is healthy again after battling a serious illness for over a week. He will return to the lineup when Miami plays New Orleans on New Year’s Night.
However, there may be some uncertainty. When asked on Tuesday if he wants to stay in Miami, Butler was unsure, especially with ongoing trade rumors.
“It’s a good question. Who knows? I don’t,” Butler said. “But right now, I’m here. So, I’m going to make the most of it. I am going to compete, and I am going to win. And that’s all that I’ve got. It’s a lot of talk. And it is a lot of noise, which I’m cool with. It doesn’t bother me at all.
I love that. I thrive in that. But it keeps all y’all wondering. It does. It keeps the world wondering, to where you’ve got to keep coming back and asking me about something. I like it. It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that.”
His return to practice is part of a larger story that has been ongoing for months. Butler could have signed an extension with Miami this past summer for up to $113 million over two years but chose not to. The situation gained more attention three weeks ago when ESPN reported that the Heat are open to trade offers for Butler.
Then, on Christmas, ESPN reported that Butler prefers to be traded before the February 6 deadline and has a list of preferred teams, including Golden State, Houston, Phoenix, and Dallas. Butler did not confirm the list on Tuesday.
“Does it matter? Does it? I don’t think so,” Butler said. “All of that is out of my control, anyway. Like I said, I’m here. I’m hooping.”
Butler has helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals twice during his six seasons with the team. This season, he is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 20 games. The Heat are 11-9 when he plays and 5-5 when he does not.
Heat President Pat Riley responded to the trade rumors last week, breaking from the team’s usual policy of not commenting on speculation. He made it clear that the team has no plans to trade Butler, even though Butler could leave as a free agent next summer. Butler has a $52 million player option for next season.
“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,” Riley said in a statement. “Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”
Riley had said at the end of last season that he wanted the team’s best players, including Butler, to play more often.
Butler said on Tuesday that he has tried to play in as many games as possible, explaining that he attempted to play against Oklahoma City on December 20, despite injuring his ankle. He had to leave the game because of the illness that affected him for several days afterward.
“I was pretty messed up,” Butler said. “But I wanted to compete because I actually do want to play as many games as possible. I’m not even messing around. I came out and I felt sluggish, and I tweaked the ankle but that’s not what it was. I was damn near starving, getting ready to throw up and all that stuff.”
Butler has not requested a trade, and even he seems unsure about what will happen in the coming weeks or months.
“That’s up to Pat and them. They’re going to do what’s best for the organization, as they should,” Butler said. “As long as I’m happy, and right now I’m happy, I’m in a good space. I will tell you that. I’ve got my kids here, I’m healthy, I’m smiling. I promise you, I’m happy.”
