Jimmy Butler, a two-time NBA runner-up with the Miami Heat, has been suspended by the club for the third time this season. The reason for the suspension was the player's unauthorized absence from practice,

Depending on how you process any recent Heat news, that latter point feels correct, given some of Butler’s relationships with players on Miami’s roster. That is especially true of younger contributors who have grown to see Butler as a mentor no matter his team-related drama or level of candor.

It was only a month ago that Pat Riley declared Jimmy Butler trade season over. "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.

Butler was informed at shootaround that he would come off the bench behind Haywood Highsmith in this game, which prompted Butler to walk out of shootaround. From there, the Heat suspended Butler “indefinitely,” a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic and since confirmed by the team.

The Miami Heat are reluctant to take back long-term money in any Jimmy Butler trade, but should if it involves Warriors wing Andrew Wiggins.