Shams: Jimmy Butler Trade Situation Seen as Distraction, Chaos by Heat Players, Staff

The Jimmy Butler situation with the Miami Heat appears to be getting worse by the day after the six-time All-Star was suspended for the second time in three weeks.

Appearing on SportsCenter (starts at :55 mark), ESPN's Shams Charania noted the situation has become "untenable," with Heat players and staff members calling it a "distraction" and "chaos" within the organization.

The Heat announced Wednesday that Butler has been suspended two games for a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team" after he missed the team flight to Milwaukee for Thursday's game against the Bucks.

Butler had just returned to the lineup on Jan. 17 after a seven-game suspension that was also due to conduct detrimental to the team.

In their announcement of the original suspension, the Heat also said they "will listen to offers" since Butler wanted to be traded.

The Phoenix Suns, who have been cited as Butler's preferred landing spot, are seemingly positioning themselves to make a serious offer to the Heat. They acquired three first-round draft picks from the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

NBA insider Jake Fischer noted after the Suns trade with Utah that they made the deal "without a specific follow-up move lined up."

Butler has had no problem creating chaos within organizations to get what he wants. He reportedly insulted Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins during practices when all three were teammates with the Minnesota Timberwolves leading up to the 2018-19 season.

The Heat are faced with a difficult dilemma of trying to get what they deem to be fair value for a player of Butler's talent, while also wanting to avoid any further distractions as they try to make the playoffs this season.

There's going to be a resolution one way or another within the next two weeks. The NBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 6.

Butler will be eligible to return from his two-game suspension on Monday when the Heat host the Orlando Magic.