Pat Riley does not give in. “I’m never going to apologize to my players for being tough,” he said on the LeBatardShow. After years of stubbornness, Pat and Jimmy Butler have finally reached a breaking point. Honestly, this feels like a trainwreck that was bound to happen. You could almost see the tension building between them over time. Now, it looks like we’re heading for an inevitable, public split that’s bound to get messy.

On January 3, Pat Riley and the Heat’s front office made a bold move, suspending Jimmy Butler for “conduct detrimental to the team.” It was clear they had enough of his behavior. Sources say Butler skipped multiple morning shootarounds and even insisted on flying separately from the team. Honestly, this kind of attitude isn’t something the Heat are willing to let slide, especially from one of their biggest stars. When you’re the face of the franchise, you’re supposed to set the tone, not break from it.

So what caused this? Look at his changing roster. His tight-knit crew from the 2023 Finals run—Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Caleb Martin—are all gone. Meanwhile, teams like the Cavaliers are reaping the rewards of roster stability. “A lot of the success came from the chemistry,” said one insider who was aware of the Miami side’s inner workings.

“Those were (Butler’s) guys,” affirmed another NBA source via The Stein Line.

Butler saw Strus as a brother, matching his sarcastic humor, and their handshake routine became an Instagram favorite. Without those guys, it’s no surprise Butler has been feeling disconnected.

And now it looks like his time in Miami is up. It looks like the Suns aren’t the only team Butler might play for, there’s another. Sources close to the Pacers told Shot Coverage that they’re eyeing Jimmy Buckets, as reported by Rob Peterson.

The Tyrese Haliburton-Jimmy Butler duo could be good. But we don’t know for sure if he will land up in Indiana. While there were three players he gelled with, in Miami, there was someone who was frustrated with Jimmy.

Should the Sixers go for Jimmy Butler? Maybe not while Kyle Lowry is on the team

Rumors have been swirling that the Philadelphia 76ers could make a move for Jimmy Butler, especially with his trade request from the Miami Heat still on the table. But hold up, because not everyone is excited about the idea of him returning to Philly.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Butler’s former teammate Kyle Lowry is definitely not one of those people. He declined to make any comment on the ongoing Heat drama as well. The two played together in Miami from 2021 to 2024, but Lowry eventually grew frustrated with Butler’s “headstrong tendencies” on the court. Even though they were close off the floor, Lowry had enough.

Lowry was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, and his move to the 76ers followed soon after. But this latest tidbit gives us a glimpse into Butler’s impact on his teammates—and it’s not always pretty. Remember, Jimmy has a history of shaking things up with every team he’s on, and it’s clear that even his closest allies can’t handle the drama for long.

For the 76ers, bringing JB back isn’t the move they need to fix their issues. Sure, he led Miami to the NBA Finals, but the baggage that comes with him is hard to ignore. At 35, Butler’s once-worth-it headaches might now be more trouble than they’re worth… If the 76ers are looking for a quick fix, re-acquiring Butler might not be the answer they’re hoping for.