Heat expected Jimmy Butler to join team in Orlando on Friday for flight to Atlanta
Amid ongoing trade speculation surrounding Jimmy Butler, he remains away from the Miami Heat. Following the Heat’s 89-88 win over the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on Thursday night to open a three-game trip, there was an expectation that Butler would meet the team in Orlando for its Friday afternoon flight in Atlanta. But Butler remains in Miami going through his “return to competition reconditioning” process, according to a league source, and his status is in doubt for Saturday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena (3 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun and NBA TV).
Source: Miami Herald
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Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
NEW: Jimmy Butler still away from Heat, status for Saturday’s game vs. Hawks in Atlanta in question miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… The latest on the Butler situation - 1:52 PM
Friday Beyond the Arc pod w/ @bradbotkincbs
-Luka out at least a month
-Pat Riley takes on Jimmy Butler
-LeBron vs the NFL
-Brad’s bold predictions
-Zach Edey’s new nickname is Big Ziti
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youtube.com/@beyondthearcc… - 1:32 PM
NBA trade rumors roundup: The latest news includes teams monitoring De'Aaron Fox, while Jimmy Butler trade talk is squashed (sort of).
nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba-t… - 12:30 PM
Today’s The Hoop Collective with @WindhorstESPN and @TimBontemps reacts to Luka’s injury, Wemby’s Christmas intro, the simmering situations with De’Aaron Fox in SAC and Jimmy Butler in MIA and more youtu.be/DtE6fBowchc?si… - 12:28 PM
Picks 'n Pops: C's concern, Jimmy Butler being stuck, and great interview chemistry bostonsportsjournal.com/2024/12/27/pic… - 12:19 PM
LIVE in 5! @bradbotkincbs @JohnGonzalez talking NBA's nearly perfect Christmas, Jimmy Butler vs. Pat Riley, Luka's injury, LeBron vs. the NFL & MORE!!!
youtube.com/live/TJFDZioQX… - 11:56 AM
Beyond the Arc LIVE on YouTube coming up at 12 pm ET w/ @bradbotkincbs
-Luka out at least a month
-Pat Riley vs Jimmy Butler
-LeBron vs the NFL
-Brad’s Bold Predictions
-Team of the Night
youtube.com/live/TJFDZioQX… - 11:50 AM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
From yesterday: Heat president Pat Riley issues strong statement amid the speculation: "We are not trading Jimmy Butler" miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… The latest on where things stand - 10:55 AM
Where things stand with Jimmy Butler, with the expectation he will be with team in Atlanta and Houston this weekend
miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia…
Heat draws line in sand - 10:01 AM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Heat president Pat Riley issues strong statement amid the speculation: "We are not trading Jimmy Butler" miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… The latest on where things stand, as Butler misses his third straight game tonight - 6:21 PM
Anthony Chiang @Anthony_Chiang
Jimmy Butler (return to competition reconditioning) is out tonight vs. Magic in Orlando. He's expected to meet the team tomorrow in advance of Saturday's game vs. Hawks in Atlanta. - 5:07 PM
Jimmy Butler (return to competition reconditioning) is out tonight in Orlando. Expected to meet team tomorrow and be available Saturday in Atlanta. - 5:07 PM
Miami's Pat Riley: 'We are not trading Jimmy Butler'
nbcsports.com/nba/news/miami… - 3:34 PM
More on this storyline
But Butler’s relationship with the team has become somewhat strained in recent months. According to multiple sources, Butler has been disappointed with the Heat primarily because Miami declined to give him a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer, a deal that would have run through the 2026-27 season. Butler was open to signing such a deal early in the negotiating window, but his mindset changed when the extension wasn’t immediately offered by the Heat. The Heat could still offer Butler that extension until June 30, but Miami has given no indication that it will. After the Heat did not quickly agree to an extension this past offseason, Butler decided to play out this season and exercise his option to become a free agent this upcoming summer. That remains his intention, sources said. -via Miami Herald / December 27, 2024
Barry Jackson: It's in best interests of both parties if Jimmy Butler returns VERY soon, plays as many games as possible and is "Playoff Jimmy" rest of way to motivate even more teams to make him max offer this summer (with Heat's help needed for anyone but Nets). It's in Heat's best interests too; that's Miami's preference. We'll see if that happens. -via x.com / December 27, 2024
Anthony Chiang: Jimmy Butler has yet to rejoin the Heat and remains in Miami doing his "return to competition reconditioning" after missing time with a stomach illness. His status for this weekend's games in Atlanta and Houston remains up in the air. -via Twitter @Anthony_Chiang / December 27, 2024
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Heat expected Jimmy Butler to join team in Orlando on Friday for flight to Atlanta
