“We are not trading Jimmy Butler.” Fed up by the constant rumors, Pat Riley recently made it clear he has no intention of parting ways with the Heat superstar. However, it proved to be a failed attempt, as Butler continues to be the primary target for many potential suitors. And it looks like Jimmy is not on the same page with Riley because he added more fuel to his trade rumors by dropping a bombshell after tonight’s loss to the Pacers.

Usually, Butler is very jovial during pressers. Just last year, he showed up to Media Day in his new ‘Emo’ look after the Damian Lillard trade fell through. A year prior, he came out with dreadlocks. However, during tonight’s post-game presser, Jimmy seemed serious and confessed, “What do I want to see happen? Umm, I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. Wherever that maybe, we’ll find out here pretty soon. Wanna get my joy back.”

Turns out, Jimmy is no longer having fun playing the game he loves. Maybe, some of it has to do with his recent slump as he missed significant time due to severe illness and has failed to score in double digits since his return. Even tonight, he finished with only 9 points. But the bigger question is: Has he lost his joy playing for the Heat?

Butler continued, “I’m happy here you know off the court, but I wanna be back to somewhere dominant and I wanna hoop. I wanna help this team win right now and I’m not doing that.”

And when asked if he thinks he can get his joy back on the court in Miami, he responded, “Probably not.” Yes, despite Riley’s assurance, Jimmy does not seem very contented with his current situation. As of now, the Heat are sixth in the East and have been unable to win games consistently. And their struggles could lead to Butler demanding a trade, which he hinted at tonight.

Jimmy Butler willing to “Compete” despite losing his joy due to Role Change

Well, this is not the first time Butler has addressed his trade rumors. A few days ago, he responded cryptically when asked about his desire to stay in Miami. “It’s a good question. Who knows? I don’t.”

But what might have led to a much clearer response tonight was his dissatisfaction with the change in his role. Yes, Butler’s usage rate has dropped significantly this season, which is something he is not used to. He mentioned, “That’s not what I’m used to being. I haven’t been that since I don’t know, my first, second, third year in the league where I went out there and just played defense.”

Obviously, Butler is more comfortable being the main guy, as he was when he led the Heat to two NBA Finals. The sudden shift to being a three-and-D guy could be one reason he lost some joy. However, being a true professional, he is willing to play that role to perfection until something better comes along.

“It’s not a tough adjustment to me. I’m going out there to compete to win either way. Whether I score nine points or 29 points, I will compete. That’s one thing that I will say.”

But if Riley and Spoelstra don’t fix things soon, it won’t be long before Butler skips town to find a place where his needs are met. Reports suggest that the Warriors, Suns, Mavs, and Rockets remain his preferred destinations. Do you think Butler will get traded before the February deadline?