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35-Year-Old Jimmy Butler, Six-Time All-Star, Requests Trade from Miami Heat Before Feb. 6 Deadline

Jan 3, 2025, 04:28 AM

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, a 35-year-old six-time All-Star, has formally requested a trade from the team, expressing a desire to find joy in playing basketball again. Butler, who has been with the Heat for six seasons since 2019 and led them to two NBA Finals, indicated that he is open to playing for any team except Miami. This request comes after Butler's performance in recent games, where he scored only nine points in losses to the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Averaging 18 points per game on a career-high 55.3% shooting this season, Butler's comments about wanting to regain his joy on the court and his dissatisfaction with his current role have fueled speculation about his future with the Heat. Despite the team's president Pat Riley's previous assertion that Butler would not be traded, the situation has escalated following Butler's public statements, with the trade deadline set for Feb. 6.