Jimmy Butler was back at practice with the Miami Heat on Tuesday after missing the team's past five games. His presence was also the first time reporters have been able to speak to him following a Christmas Day ESPN report that he prefers to be traded before February's NBA trade deadline.
After practice, Butler did not confirm or deny that he wishes to move on from the 16-14 Heat after parts of six seasons in Miami.
"Does it matter? Does it matter?," Butler responded when asked if he prefers to be traded. "I honestly do not care about getting traded, where I'm supposed to go, who's saying what.... All of that is out of my control anyway."
Heat president Pat Riley released a statement a day after the ESPN report emphatically denying that the team will trade the 35-year-old Butler.
Butler was asked if he would be happy if he remained with the Heat for the remainder of this season.
"I don't know," Butler said. "We will see. Only time will tell. I can't tell you what's going to happen come tomorrow. I appreciate the statement. But this is a business after all. I won't have any hard feelings either way."
Would it serve Butler and the Heat better if he stayed or went ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline?
"I don't know. I don't know. That's up to Pat [Riley]," Butler said. "He will do what's best for the organization as they should. And as long as I'm happy. And right now, I'm happy. I'm in a good space. I've got my kids here. I'm healthy. I'm smiling. I promise you I'm happy."
In between the discussion on his future, Butler said he is ready to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Butler's future in Miami will be a topic of discussion until there's a trade or he states his desire to remain with the franchise. When asked if he wants to stay with the Heat, the six-time All-Star played coy.
"That's a good question. Who knows? I don't," Butler said. "Right now, I'm here and I'm to make the most of it. I am going to compete and I'm going to win. It's a lot of talk, a lot of noise, which I'm cool with. It doesn't bother me at all. I love that. I thrive at it. It keeps you all wondering, the world wondering. It's good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted."
Butler is in his 14th year in the NBA. He's been with the Heat since 2019. Miami is reportedly open to listening to offers for Butler, who wants a trade to a "win-now contender" above all. The teams Butler is open to reportedly include the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.
Butler and the Heat weren't able to come to terms on a contract extension this summer, meaning he has only a $52 million player option left on his Heat contract. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Butler does not plan to exercise that option, which means he'd become a free agent in July. He's currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season.
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