Heat Star Jimmy Butler Requests Trade to 'Anywhere' But Miami

Six-time All-Star Miami Heat small forward Jimmy Butler has reportedly doubled down on his demand to be shipped out of town.

Sources inform Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN that the 6-foot-7 swingman out of Marquette hasn't budged on his behind-the-scenes request to be traded away from the Heat this year, after failing to come to terms on an extension agreement during the 2024 offseason.

"He is open to playing anywhere other than Miami and believes he can make any team a contender -- no matter where he is moved," Charania and Windhorst write.

Butler intends to practice and play games with the Heat while, he hopes, the team fields trade offers, per ESPN.

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on January 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Brennan Asplen/Getty Images

Following a 128-115 defeat on Thursday night to the Indiana Pacers (the game wasn't quite that close, and the margin only narrowed after Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra inserted his bench), Butler got shockingly candid about his feelings during a presser. He scored a scant nine points in the contest.

"I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon," Butler said. "I'm happy here off the court but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I'm not doing it."

In response to a question about whether or not he would be able to recapture that "joy" if he remained in South Beach, Butler got icy.

"Probably not," the five-time All-NBA honoree said.

The Pacers bout represented only Butler's second game since returning to the Heat following an illness. Head coach Erik Spoelstra held him out of the fourth quarters of both Thursday's Pacers clash and a Wednesday win over the lowly New Orleans Pelicans. Butler scored just nine points in that game, too.

This story will be updated...