The Miami Heat have been dealing with the trade drama of star Jimmy Butler for a long time now but so far, nothing has materialized. It seems as if the team will move on from Butler before the trade deadline expires but things are a little complicated.

Failing to trade Butler before the deadline would be a disaster for the Heat. It's doubtful he will return to Erik Spoelstra's rotation this season, and even if he did, he would be nothing more than a distraction to his teammates. Furthermore, the Heat would be resigned to losing their star player in the summer, with nothing coming back in return.

Butler was informed at morning shootaround that he would come off the bench behind Haywood Highsmith against Orlando, which prompted Butler to walk out of the shootaround. That gave Miami the pretext, and it suspended Butler “indefinitely,” a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic and since confirmed by the team.