Depending on how you process any recent Heat news, that latter point feels correct, given some of Butler’s relationships with players on Miami’s roster. That is especially true of younger contributors who have grown to see Butler as a mentor no matter his team-related drama or level of candor.

After Butler officially requested a trade off Miami early on in January, the team suspended him for seven games due to multiple instances of conduct detrimental. Butler returned for three games after this suspension ended, before he was suspended for two morre games after he missed the team's flight to Milwaukee last Wednesday.