Jimmy Butler’s Miami Heat career is all but over and one of Erik Spoelstra’s ‘non-negotiables’ may further point to his imminent exit.
The Heat have been without Butler for large portions of this season with the star facing multiple suspensions, his latest is indefinite.
Butler is looking for a move away from the team before the trade deadline of February 6th and several teams including the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors are said to be interested.
The attitude of Butler has been questioned by many in recent weeks and current Heat star Duncan Robinson has revealed one thing that coach Spoelstra will not accept, it might further explain his latest suspension for leaving practice early.
Spoelstra demands ‘hard work’ you have to ‘buy-in’, says Robinson
Spoelstra is one of the longest-serving coaches in the NBA and has helped the Miami Heat to win two NBA Championships.
There isn’t much that coach Spoelstra hasn’t seen and dealt with so the Butler situation will likely unfaze him.
While many of Butler’s issues are with the Heat GM Pat Riley, according to Stephen A. Smith it was Spoelstra who decided to drop Butler to the bench for the Magic game.
His reason for dropping Butler may have become clearer following comments from Robinson.
Speaking on The Young Man and The Three Podcast, he said: “With Spo [Spoelstra] the non-negotiable is the work ethic, the preparation, you have to have a level of that as a leader as ultimately that’s what bleeds down.
“You’re never going to do everything right but if it’s done with intent and everybody is at least on the same page and there’s a will to compete you’re stepping in the right direction.
“I think what Spo has really tried to capture with us, and when I’ve been on good teams and had good stretches it’s so much more than the X’s and O’s and what plays we are going to run, it’s how do you get everybody to buy into this? We’re all super ambitious people that have our sites set on getting accolades and making money but you need to work out how to get individuals to buy into something bigger than themselves.”
Duncan Robinson handed new playmaker role
With Butler being missing from the Heat side for long stretches of the season the team have struggled for consistency and find themselves with a 23-23 record in the Eastern Conference.
Tyler Herro has been the Heat’s go-to player and has earned himself a much-deserved All-Star spot, the first of his career.
While Herro has been the team’s main playmaker in the absence of Butler, Robinson has also found himself on the ball more.
The 30-year-old is more commonly known for finding open space to be thrown the ball to drop some of his lethal three-point shots, but recently he has been trusted with a more active role.
In the last six games, he is averaging 16.3 points, well up on his season average of 11.3.
With Butler likely moving on Robinson will be playing a more active part in the Heat scoring for the foreseeable.