‘Inside the NBA’ has a big debate about STATE Star Jimmy Butler’s Drama, the latest suspension

Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with the Miami Heat is over.

The team recently suspended the six-time star for the second time in three weeks – a decision that further cooled the belief that Butler had already played his last game for the franchise.

Butter cited the latest suspension for what the team said in a statement it called “a continued pattern of disrespect for team rules, disruptive behavior and disruptive behavior against the team,” including missing a heat flight to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 25.

During Thursday’s long-running “Inside the NBA,” Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith discussed the drama surrounding Butler.

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O’Neal said it’s “human nature” for Butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is considered.

“I think about this situation, it’s become more human nature,” commented Oneal. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I’ve been in this situation over and over again. Everything I’ve done for you, and you don’t want to give me what I want, so human nature kicks in…. The part I hate about this basketball business is, it always has to be someone’s fault.”

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Butler, 34, has one year left on his contract and has a $52 million option for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension. However, it does not appear that the heat increases what is offered to Butler, especially since he has missed about 25 percent of the team’s games since he arrived in 2019.

However, Johnson, Barkley and Smith all expressed points of view that contradict Oneal’s thoughts.

TNT NBA-OFF presented by Carmax broadcasts live pregame on October 24, 2023, at Bels Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow / NBAE Via Images)

“You just can’t think of doing the job,” Barkley replied.

“He took $50 [million] This year and next year,” Smith said.

While Johnson often acts as a referee when NBA players participate in the show, they challenge Oneal after the NBA doubles.

“Don’t you feel the responsibility if you are under contract this season to play this season?” Johnson asked.

Jimmy Butler, #22 of the Miami Heat, prepares to shoot a free throw against the Washington Wizards on February 2, 2024 at the One In Arena in Washington, DC (Kenny Giarla / Nbae Via Pictures)

Barkley also suggested that the butler copied to the fans and those who work with him to put his feelings about the contract situation aside and do his part to help the heat of the games.

“You can be mad at the Miami Heat Organization, but the Miami fans and those people in that locker room have nothing that doesn’t want a contract extension.”

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Butler was fired for seven games earlier this month, costing him about $2.4 million in salary.

Money may not be the only reason for Butler’s unhappiness. Butler has made it a secret that he is not happy with what he says is his new role within the offense. He didn’t participate in his usual way during the introduction of the heat in the last game, and he is alone at times during timeouts when he is not on the move.

Butler told the Heat in recent weeks that he wanted a trade, according to multiple reports. The demand was not made public, because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The NBA trade deadline is February 6.

The accompanying device contributed to this report.

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