Miami Heat president Pat Riley firmly denies report of Jimmy Butler trade

Miami Heat president Pat Riley has made it clear: The team is not letting go of Jimmy Butler anytime soon.

On Thursday, Riley responded to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania that Butler wanted to be traded, saying that the team not planning on trading him.

“We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches,” Riley said in a statement released by the team on Thursday. “Therefore, we will make it clear: We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

Charania reported Wednesday that Butler “prefers” a trade away from Miami prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but that he had not officially requested a trade. Charania had reported that Miami was open to offers for Butler, who was looking at potential championship teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

Riley’s statement, while stating that the team will not trade Butler, does not clarify whether the 35-year-old forward had discussed or wanted a trade.

Butler has been with the Heat since 2019, and has lead the team to the postseason in five of his six full seasons with the team; however, the six-time All-Star has fallen short of the NBA Championship despite making the Finals twice.

Butler is currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season.

Miami and Butler were unable to agree on a contract extension this summer, and Charania reported Wednesday that Butler does not plan to exercise his $52 million player option, which would make him a free agent in July.