Jan 2, 2025, 11:11 PM ET

Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has informed the Miami Heat that he wishes to be traded, according to sources speaking to ESPN. However, Butler has not provided the Heat with a list of preferred destinations. He is open to playing anywhere and believes he can help any team become a contender, regardless of where he's moved. Despite his trade request, he intends to participate in all team activities and fulfill his obligations to the Heat during this process, sources added.

The Heat did not respond to inquiries on Thursday night.

In Miami's 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, Butler scored just nine points, and afterward, he expressed that he had lost his joy playing for the team. "I want to get my joy back playing basketball, wherever that may be," Butler said. "I'm happy off the court, but I want to return to playing at a dominant level, to help this team win, and right now, I’m not doing that." When asked if he thought he could regain that joy with the Heat, Butler responded, "Probably not."

A key factor in Butler's decision appears to be remarks made by team officials after the Heat's win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Butler had returned from a 13-day absence due to illness, playing 25 minutes and taking just five shots, finishing with nine points. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra opted not to play Butler in the fourth quarter of either game this week.

"I’m competing regardless of whether I score nine points or 29 points," Butler said after Thursday's loss. "You won't say I'm not playing hard. My usage is down and I don’t shoot much, but you can’t say I’m not out there playing hard."

Butler's trade request could lead to a confrontation with Heat management, which has been firm in its stance that they do not intend to trade him. Following an ESPN report on Christmas Day that Butler preferred a trade and was interested in the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks, Heat president Pat Riley issued a statement saying, "We are not trading Jimmy Butler."

Before this public statement, the Heat had engaged in initial trade talks with several teams, but sources indicate none had progressed. The Heat has shown little urgency to pursue a trade, sources say. Riley and Heat owner Micky Arison recently met with Butler’s representatives in an attempt to resolve the situation, but these discussions have yet to be successful.

The tension between Butler and the Heat dates back to last spring when Riley announced the team would not extend Butler’s contract before the 2024-25 season, a deal that could have been worth up to $113 million over two years. Butler missed the Heat’s first-round playoff series loss to the Boston Celtics due to a knee injury suffered in the team's play-in win. After the series loss, Butler suggested that the Heat would have won if he had been healthy. "If you're not on the court, you should keep your mouth shut," Riley responded.

Butler’s relationship with Riley remains strained, according to sources.

Butler, 35, is in the final year of a contract worth $49 million this season, with a player option for $52 million next year. Sources say Butler intends to decline his 2025-26 player option and become a free agent in July.

So far this season, Butler has averaged 18 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while shooting a career-high 55.3% from the field. He is widely regarded as one of the NBA's top competitors and has been a key postseason performer, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals and one additional Eastern Conference Finals appearance over the past five years.

In a different part of the NBA, Stephen Curry helped the Golden State Warriors to a 139-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers with a remarkable shooting display on Thursday night. Curry made all eight of his 3-point attempts, finishing with 30 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. This performance marked his most efficient shooting night from behind the arc in his career, setting a new personal best for 3-pointers made without a miss. He also became the first player in NBA history to hit 8-for-8 from three while also recording 10 assists.

Despite playing through a sprained right thumb, Curry's performance lifted the Warriors, who had been struggling recently. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak following a strong 12-3 start. Curry’s dynamic play, including a banked 3-pointer, energized his teammates and was a catalyst for the Warriors' best offensive performance in weeks, shooting 60.9% from the field, including 22-of-39 from beyond the arc.

The victory marked a welcome break for Golden State, which had been plagued by frustration in recent losses. As Curry reflected, "Sometimes when you have a little injury or something random, it forces you to focus more. It just makes you play free."