How much money have Heat-issued suspensions cost Jimmy Butler? Here’s a breakdown
The Miami Heat continues to suspend Jimmy Butler and Butler continues to lose money.
With the Heat suspending Butler on Monday for the third time this month, he’s on track to lose more than $5 million in salary and possibly more.
Butler’s first two suspensions were deemed as punishments for “conduct detrimental to the team,” which comes at a cost of $336,543 per game based on his salary.
But Butler’s latest suspension was labeled as a punishment for “intentionally withholding services,” which comes at a cost of $532,737 per game based on his salary.
With all of that taken into account, here’s the full breakdown:
▪ Butler’s Jan. 3 seven-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team” cost him $2,355,801.
▪ Butler’s Jan. 22 two-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team” cost him $673,086.
▪ Butler’s latest suspension of at least five games issued Monday for “intentionally withholding services” will cost Butler at least $2,663,685. This suspension is indefinite, so it would cost Butler more if he’s still on the team past the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline and the suspension extends beyond five games. But if Butler is traded by the Heat before the five games are up, he wouldn’t lose the full $2,663,685.
This has Butler set to lose at least about $5.7 million of his $48.8 million salary for this season, assuming he’s still on the Heat’s roster for each of the first five games of this latest indefinite suspension.
It’s important to note, though, that the National Basketball Players Association is expected to file a grievance to dispute Butler’s suspensions, with the fine money held in escrow until a resolution is reached. This process could take up to a year, but could result in Butler getting some of the lost salary back.
