After an expensive suspension, the time is nearing for Jimmy Butler’s return. With a week still in hand, concerns linger about whether his fallout with the Miami Heat and his teammates can be resolved. And now, a detailed explanation has been provided, offering a potential glimpse of how things could unfold next week in the Heat locker room.

As the discussion unraveled among the NBA journalists, Rachel Nichols highlighted Jimmy’s player option for next season and his growing distance from the franchise. “He has a player option for $52 million for one season,” she said. “Let me just say that one more time. $52 million for 1 season for a guy who I think is gonna be 36 years old at that point.”

The Miami star is currently earning a $49 million salary. The next season Jimmy will have the player option which Nichols emphasized multiple times. She believes that it’s certainly something hard to reject, given Jimmy’s big name and the priority it holds for him, especially now that the franchise has declined to grant his wish for an $100 million extension. “That is hard to turn down, especially if you are Jimmy Butler and you have made getting these bigger contracts a bigger and bigger priority for you over the last 5 years. That’s part of the sourness with Miami is that… they don’t want to extend him, and he thinks he deserves that additional 2 year, 100 million plus dollar deal,” Nichols added.

So, Nichols believes the cards are in the 35-year-old’s hands. He certainly wouldn’t be interested to join a team that isn’t willing to extend his contract. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns, who are eager to bring Jimmy on board, find themselves in a much more complicated situation. Moreover, there’s the $52 million option for next season that Butler might not want to pass up, even if it’s with a team like Miami, where he’s at odds with the management. And if he decides to use the player option, Nichols stated, “You have to ask yourself, are you gonna make this difficult for a year and a half?” referring to his “attitude problem.” The potential attitude issues could be a major problem for Jimmy when he returns to the locker room.

Jimmy Butler requires three approval to pick up from where he left

What will happen when Jimmy Butler returns after his suspension? He could avoid any issues with his teammates and coach, depending on the attitude he brings. And, of course, it’s also up to three key people, as Nichols mentioned.

Speculating the possible situation in the locker room, she said, “What attitude he has, how he approaches things, I think that’ll make a huge difference, obviously. Because if it feels same old same old, no one’s gonna give him another chance. If he goes in with an attitude of, okay. I’ve reconsidered. I’ve thought about my next year and a half. I wanna make this work. Then it also is up to Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra.”

She further briefed that winning over head coach Spoelstra won’t be a difficult task. “Erik, as we know, just wants to win. He may be privately frustrated, annoyed, mad at Jimmy Butler, but if Jimmy can help him win and Jimmy has a good attitude and Jimmy is playing his heart out, Erik will be happy.”

The next one being Jimmy’s closest teammate. “Bam Adebayo, I think, does have this sort of friendship, been through the wars with Jimmy,” she said. Bam even comes across as someone, Nichols explained, who wants to see the good in people. So, even could be won over with a positive attitude.

And by this time you’ve already guessed who the third person could be? President Pat Riley. The relationship between Jimmy and the Godfather has been rocky off late. No one can predict what Riley would do. So that’s where Jimmy’s chapter is stuck right now. Keeping a close eye to see how things turn out with the franchise and their star player is the only way forward at this point of time.