Magic ‘feel cheated’ after clock error vs. Lakers

The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler indefinitely at least through the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Butler has previously been suspended seven games and two games by the Heat for separate incidents.

Butler is seeking a trade from the Heat with the situation becoming increasingly contentious over the past two months. Butler was most recently suspended for missing a team flight to play at the Milwaukee Bucks.

On Monday morning, Butler walked out of shootaround after he was informed he would be coming off the bench with Haywood Highsmith being inserted into the starting lineup moving forward.

The Heat released the following statement:

“The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler without pay effective immediately for an indefinite period to last no fewer than five games. The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services. This includes walking out of practice earlier today.”

The purpose for Team USA is to win Olympic Gold. A secondary outcome from whenever players get together to play for the United States is planting the seeds for future partnerships. Countless NBA duos and trios have been formed out of players having fun as teammates for Team USA and seeking to carry that back to their day jobs.

This summer, an inseparable duo has been Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Edwards has been following Durant around like a big brother while in France. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps shared that it was the same in Olympics training camp in Las Vegas early in July.

There are no indications that any sort of NBA team-up is in the future for the Wolves star and the Suns star. Both players are on multi-year contracts, and both Minnesota and Phoenix are second-apron teams who are restricted in what moves they can make. There’s also a nearly 13-year age gap between the All-Stars.

Edwards has been outspoken of his admiration for Durant. The two were famously spotted talking trash to each other as the Timberwolves dispatched the Suns during the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.