Similar Stories to Even Amid Suspension, Plan In Place For Jimmy Butler To Get Back To Work With Heat In Interim on Bing News

At a time when the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler seemingly want nothing to do with each other, the two sides are working with each other. Even with both sides investigating an exit strategy, and even with Butler suspended Friday for seven games by the Heat for “conduct detrimental to the team,” the Heat had assistant coach Octavio De La Grana and others remain behind from the current western swing to be available to work with Butler. Although suspended without pay for the games, Butler, under rules in place under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, remains required to be available to the team on non game days for the practice portion of his contract, a contract that remains in effect. To that end, De La Grana,  assistant athletic trainer Armando Rivas and player-development coach Remy Ndiaye stayed beyond from the team’s six-game trip to be available to Butler. While suspended players can not be in arenas two hours prior to games in those facilities while suspended, they otherwise are allowed to be at and work at such facilities. Should a player refuse to participate in such sessions, it would lead to additional sanction, similar to players refusing to participate in practice sessions. With Monday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center the second of the games under suspension, the timetable would have Butler eligible to return after the conclusion of the current six-game trip. The Heat’s statement announcing the suspension concluded with, “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.” However, if a trade is not consummated, Butler would be eligible to return for the Jan 17 game against the Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. Because of that timetable, the Heat opted for the aforementioned staff behind as they took flight on Sunday for Sacramento. Should Butler remain with the Heat beyond the term of the suspension, it could create an uneasy situation for the franchise under the NBA’s Player Participation Policy that went into effect last season. Per that policy,  “Teams must refrain from any long-term shutdown (or near shutdown) whereby a star player ceases participating in games or begins to play a materially reduced role in circumstances affecting the integrity of the game.” Related Articles Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Do Heat now have rest of roster wondering who might be a plus-one in a Butler trade? Miami Heat | Is there a Plan B without a Butler plan for Erik Spoelstra and the Heat? Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Readers sound off, pro and con, on Pat Riley (bonus edition) Miami Heat | Winderman’s view: Butler’s lack of joy proves contagious, with heightened Heat misery in loss to Jazz Miami Heat | Somewhere Butler fiddles as Heat burned in 136-100 humiliation at hands of lowly Jazz Per that policy, “A ‘star player’ is defined for purposes of this Policy as any player who, in any of the prior three seasons, was named to the All-NBA Team or All-Star Team.” Butler was second-team All-NBA in 2023, an All-Star in 2022. However, there also is a potential workaround clause in the policy that reads, “Rare and Unusual Circumstances: If a rare and unusual circumstance exists for the absence, in the judgment of the league office.” Based on what has transpired between Butler and the team over the past month, that clause could come into play. Whether Butler is open to a return to the Heat or not, he would be contractually obligated to make himself for Heat games going forward following the completion of the suspension.