Jimmy Butler is another day closer to finding out his fate as the February 6 trade deadline nears.
This week, NBA insider Brian Windhorst declared the Miami Heat will seek to trade Jimmy Butler, backing down on their previous stance.
It came after Butler was suspended for a third time in 2025, after walking out of practice. Now the team are attempting to get the best possible deal for him.
This itself is not simple, with Butler’s ‘petty’ actions making him less desirable to teams, while his preferred choice of the Phoenix Suns lack the trade assets to make a deal with the Miami Heat work.
Dwight Howard says he would not sign Jimmy Butler
Former NBA star Dwight Howard went up against Jimmy Butler in the 2020 NBA Finals when the LA Lakers defeated the Miami Heat.
Speaking as a guest on 7PM To Brooklyn, Dwight Howard was placed in a theoretical position as a general manager, and asked if Butler was a player he would want to acquire.
Howard responded: “I think he’s a great player, I have nothing bad to say about him. But I probably wouldn’t, not at this point. It’s just too much.
“He’s a great player, also he’s had some situations… From the stuff that I’m seeing I probably as a GM wouldn’t sign him unless we had a conversations.”
Elaborating on what he would discuss with Butler, Howard laid it out, “Are you serious about winning right now? What’s your goal, is it winning, is it about you being the star, what are you trying to accomplish?
“Because I’m trying to take this team to the promised land and I need a true leader.’”
Butler’s leadership qualities have diminished in Miami, losing his focus on the team in pursuit of resolving his own individual situation.
Former NBA star Patrick Beverley claims it is all money-motivated, with Butler upset he has not landed the big contract he craves.
Dwight Howard not impressed with Jimmy Butler conduct
Amid his express desire to leave the Heat, Butler has antagonized the team by wearing Phoenix Suns colored shoes on the court, making cryptic statements to the press, and posting social media videos making light of his suspension.
Dwight Howard was clear to add that he was not impressed, and believes that real life GMs will follow his own theoretical lead.
He explained: “I’m not ____ing with Jimmy doing what he doing either, making a mockery of himself and also the team, jokes and stuff like that.
“At the end of the day these people employ him. You gotta have some respect on that end. They paying you!
“I don’t think this is the right way to get a new contract. Who’s going to invest if they know it could possibly end up in the same type of situation at the end of that contract.”