Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler has reportedly reached a settlement with his former team, the Miami Heat, over the $6 million fine he received last season while awaiting a trade.
Jimmy Butler reaches $3 million settlement with Miami Heat
Per Ella Vindman south florida sun sentinelAfterwards, Butler and the Heat reached a settlement agreement of $3 million. Windman noted that Butler appealed the penalty immediately after it was evaluated last season.
Butler started last season with the Heat, but things quickly escalated when he requested a trade.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in December that Butler would prefer to be traded, but the Heat responded with a statement saying they had no plans to trade him.
After the report was released, Butler publicly expressed his desire to quit and said he wanted to “get the joy back from playing basketball.” Asked if that would happen in Miami, he said: “Probably not.”
Butler was subsequently suspended seven games for “repeated conduct detrimental to the team.”
A few weeks after the first suspension, Butler was suspended for another five games after exiting practice after being told he would be replaced in the starting lineup by Haywood Highsmith.
Butler signs new contract with Warriors after Miami trade
Due to the failure of the two parties to reach a contract extension agreement, Butler’s contract with the Heat last season had $48.79 million left, as well as a $52.41 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Butler’s seven-game suspension cost him $346,543 for each game he missed, for a total of $2.35 million. That’s basically 1/145 of his $48.79 million salary.
The Heat eventually agreed to Butler’s trade request, sending him to the Golden State Warriors before the 2025 trade deadline. Butler then declined his $52.41 million player option and signed a new two-year, $111 million contract that runs through the 2026-27 season.
As part of the deal, the Warriors sent forwards Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick to the Heat.
According to Vindman, the $3 million settlement “satisfied both parties that the Heat had the right to assess penalties, but Butler also had legitimate questions about the extent of the sanctions.”
Vindman also noted that Butler’s one-game suspension was later lifted.
