In his current standoff with the Heat front office ( read: Pat Riley ), Miami attempted to avoid the “burn everything down” portion by suspending Butler seven games for conduct detrimental to the team ( read: attempting to force a trade ).

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was back on the court Friday night for the first time since he was handed a seven-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the

Even though his ongoing feud with Heat executive Pat Riley is still not resolved, Butler does not yet have a new home. While there are perhaps several suitors ( including the Suns) with potential interest in the veteran, without a deal, Butler is still employed by the Heat and obligated to play.

Butler met with Heat president Pat Riley last week, and then met with Heat owner Micky Arison and chief executive officer Nick Arison on Thursday, according to league sources. Through it all, Butler has remained adamant about his desire to be traded.

The Jimmy Butler saga that has taken place with the Miami Heat over the last few months has been nothing short of interesting. From Butler's agent, Bernie Lee,

Jimmy Butler walked out of the Miami Heat locker room on Friday night wearing a Michael Jordan jersey. It wasn’t a No. 23 jersey.

There was no pretense of Butler being a vibrant part of the Heat for Friday’s game. He shot by himself in warmups. There was none of the choreographed palm-slapping with teammates that’s a typical part of any pregame. Kevin Love did run out to him just before the center-tap and shake hands. It looked like the first time they’d seen each other.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler returns from a seven-match ban with 18 points as his side lose to the Denver Nuggets.

Though Butler is returning to the court as his team-issued seven-game suspension ends, his dispute with the Heat remains far from resolved.

Jimmy Butler is back. Officially. His seven-game suspension is over, and he was not listed on the injury report in advance of Friday's game between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. Less than two hours before tip-off,

Butler missed Miami’s last seven games while serving a suspension for conduct that the team deemed detrimental.