Miami HEAT star Jimmy Butler looked at Pat Riley face-to-face and confirmed his demand to be traded away from the franchise.
Butler revealed to Riley he will opt into his $52 million player option from the HEAT for the 2025-26 season, using it as leverage for a trade, according to ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania.
The matter has been elevated to team owner Micky Arison stepping into the conversation. The HEAT currently is 20-18, good enough for seventh in the Eastern Conference.
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Butler’s suspension for conduct detrimental to the team is over on Thursday.
