Butler’s seven-game suspension by the Heat for conduct they deemed to be detrimental to the team is now over and he returned to the Heat lineup for the first time in two weeks, scoring 18 points in Miami’s 133-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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 ).

Q: The one thing about the Miami Heat is they are relevant and being talked about year after year – whether it’s a superstar saying he only wants to be traded to the Heat or a star player saying he’d rather play for anybody but the Heat. Beats the alternative, I guess. – Douglas.