Another episode of As the Jimmy Butler Turns arrived on Wednesday, and it was as anticlimactic as the last one.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Butler will be suspended for two games due to missing a team flight.
Since getting called out by Pat Riley during last season’s playoffs and not receiving a contract extension over the offseason, Butler has asked for a trade multiple times, with Riley showing him the hand.
Butler was suspended for seven games earlier this month for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Upon his return, Butler started all three games, playing 33, 28 and 27 minutes, averaging 13 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists, well below his season averages of 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 blocks.
During the last suspension, Jaime Jaquez Jr. started six games and averaged 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.3 minutes. With Butler back, Jaquez averaged only 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 24.6 minutes. Jaquez should return to fantasy relevance with Butler out.
With the trade deadline around two weeks away, this showdown between Riley and Butler will likely provide more drama sooner rather than later.
