The Heat are planning to suspend Jimmy Butler — again. This time it will be for two games after he missed a team flight on Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. According to the report, Butler initially had intentions of joining the Heat later on Wednesday as they get ready for their game in Milwaukee on Thursday.

Jimmy Butler has officially made his return to the Miami Heat, stepping back into the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets at the Kaseya Center. This marks

In his current standoff with the Heat front office ( read: Pat Riley ), Miami attempted to avoid the “burn everything down” portion by suspending Butler seven games for conduct detrimental to the team ( read: attempting to force a trade ).

Spotify | YouTube Vincent Goodwill and Dan Titus react to Tuesday’s Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz trade where the Suns added three additional first round picks. Will these be enough ammunition to trade for Jimmy Butler?

Butler’s seven-game suspension by the Heat for conduct they deemed to be detrimental to the team is now over and he returned to the Heat lineup for the first time in two weeks, scoring 18 points in Miami’s 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine has the second-most 30+ games in franchise history, but has a long way to catch Michael Jordan.

Jimmy Butler returned from his seven game suspension in the Miami Heat’s 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday at the Kaseya Center.

MIAMI — Jimmy Butler walked out of the Miami Heat locker room on Friday night wearing a Michael Jordan jersey. It wasn’t a No. 23 jersey. It was a No. 45 — the one Jordan briefly wore when he returned to the Chicago Bulls after coming out of retirement in March 1995.

There was no pretense of Butler being a vibrant part of the Heat for Friday’s game. He shot by himself in warmups. There was none of the choreographed palm-slapping with teammates that’s a typical part of any pregame. Kevin Love did run out to him just before the center-tap and shake hands. It looked like the first time they’d seen each other.

Butler's seven-game suspension by the Heat for conduct they deemed to be detrimental to the team is now over and he returned to the Heat lineup for the first time in two weeks, scoring 18 points in Miami's 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Jimmy Butler is back with the Miami Heat after his suspension, but nothing has really changed. Butler wants the Heat to trade him and the Heat will continue to try to fulfill that request ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline.