Why Jimmy Butler was frustrated with the Heat’s role change

With The drama between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler is reaching new heights new details emerge every day about the star’s frustration with his recent role on the team. With Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Butler is eligible to return from his seven-game suspension on Friday when the Denver Nuggets come to town.

However, if Butler does play, it looks like he’ll be returning to a system he didn’t really like, as Anthony Chang of the Miami Herald says he’s one of the forwards “biggest problems” was his role in the team. Butler would even say it publicly on Jan. 2 after Miami lost to the Indiana Pacers.

“Sources close to Butler insist one of his biggest issues with the Heat has become his role on offense this season,” Chang wrote. “Butler expressed that frustration after the last game he played before the Heat suspended him Jan. 3 for seven games “due to multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team during the season.”

That night on January 2nd, Butler would say he had lost his “joy”. plays basketball and said “probably not” when asked if that could make a comeback in Miami.

Heat’s rationale for Jimmy Butler’s diminished role

According to Chang, Butler’s camp would say via the Miami Herald that the team’s reasoning was due to the star’s “inconsistent availability in the regular season.”

“After inquiring about Butler’s apparent diminished role in the Heat’s offense,” Chang wrote. “Butler’s camp says the Heat told them some changes were made because his inconsistent availability in the regular season made it a challenge to build an offense around him.” Butler missed 22 regular season games last season and 18 regular season games in 2022-23.

“Some on the Heat would say that Butler has made his role on offense seem smaller than it really is by making it a point in some games to run to the corner and play without the ball in his hands,” Chang continued.

After being sidelined for 13 days with Butler’s stomach ailment, he had two straight nine-point games in a clearly diminished role. Especially in the Jan. 2 game against the Pacers, there were many times when Butler would stand in the corner with little activity that he talked about after the game implying that “it might be my role here” as some frustration.

“I felt like I had done my jobor at least what my job is now,” Butler said.

“That can be my role here,” Butler continued. “But I don’t think that’s what I’m used to being. I haven’t been that since my first, second, third year in the league, where I just went out and played defense, competed, guarded. I tried not to let my man score. But that’s what I’m doing now.”

Jimmy Butler’s usage rate decreased

Warming up the head coach Erik Spoelstra he spoke in front of Butler that night and when asked if Butler could be more of a point guard to trigger the buzz, he would be open to it. However, Butler was honest in his thoughts on the idea.

“Whatever we have to do,” Spoelstra said. “If we have to activate him, put the ball in his hands and play the point.” He’s already done it. We know how to get him going, he knows how to get going. These are not two strangers.”

“It’s not going to fix the situation,” Butler said of the idea.

The The error has changed this season with an emphasis on shots from beyond the arc and in the paint, moving away from the volume of mid-range shots, especially long ones, that are part of Butler’s arsenal. His usage rate is down 20.3 percent, the lowest since the 2013-2014 season.

“It’s not a hard adjustment for me,” Butler said. “I’m going there to compete to win, either way – whether I score a goal or not.” I will compete. That’s one thing I will say. So you won’t say I don’t play hard. It may seem that way because my usage is down and I’m not shooting the ball a lot.”

As he said, there should be no questions about the star playing hard The Heat questioned Butler’s effort level by Chris Haynes. Butler will return from his suspension for Friday’s game, but will meet with team owner Mickey Arison on Thursday to discuss the future, according to The Miami Herald.