Pat Riley Says That Heat Will Not Trade Jimmy Butler Despite Several Rumors

Miami Heat president Pat Riley issued a statement Thursday saying that the team does not plan on trading forward Jimmy Butler. Butler has been the subject of numerous trade rumors over the past year, with the most recent report Wednesday stating that he wished to be traded by the NBA’s deadline on Feb. 6.

“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 team statement. “Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

Earlier this month, Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, vehemently denied a report from The Athletic‘s Shams Charania that Butler was intent on being traded to the Phoenix Suns. It is unclear if Lee was denying the trade rumors or the destination in that instance, but in any case, Charania doubled down Wednesday, reporting that Butler wanted out of Miami by the trade deadline. 

Charania did not say that Butler formally requested a trade, but simply reported that he was ready to depart. This time, it was Riley who undermined Charania, stating that the team had no interest in making the move. Though Riley’s update did not address whether Butler wanted a trade, as Charania reported, it does seem to put an end to the idea of the star forward leaving. At this point, it would likely require a formal trade request for Butler to escalate matters further.

The speculation surrounding Butler’s potential departure stems from the Heat’s failure to build around him. After leading the team to a surprise run to the NBA Finals in 2023, Butler and the Heat regressed back to an also-ran last season. The team is similarly stagnant in the 2024-25 season, holding in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 14-13 record.

Butler, a 35-year-old veteran, has stated his desire to win an NBA Championship in his career, and with time running out, it seems increasingly unlikely that the Heat can build the team necessary to win one. Despite all the rumors tied to this motivation, however, Butler has not submitted a formal trade request and the Heat’s front office has now taken a clear stance against moving him. For now, it seems like he will remain in Miami until at least next year.