Kevin Love’s Hilarious IG Post Helping Heat’s Jimmy Butler With Suspensions

The Miami Heat they were in the midst of perhaps the biggest storm in the league in recent memory, with a star striker Jimmy Butler he repeatedly demanded a trade from the team — even earning himself a seven-game suspension for conduct deemed detrimental to the team. Of course, suspensions of that nature mean Butler won’t be paid for any games he misses — providing another opportunity for the NBA champion-turned-beloved-veteran-turned-comedian Kevin Love to crack his jokes.

Love, who has been on a social media tear of late, once again ripped Butler on Instagram. This time, the Heat forward made fun of it, as he did he joked that he didn’t have much money to help Butler (and his agent Bernie Lee) recoup the money they’ve lost since he’s “only” making the veteran minimum.

With Butler missing seven games due to the suspension, the Heat forward will be out roughly $2.36 million – a sum of money that should not be scoffed at. And while Love would like to be a real friend and do whatever it takes to overcome the financial hit Butler took, $2.36 million is about 61 percent from love salary for the season.

Love, of course, has made a lot of money during her successful career. The veteran Heat big man has earned an estimated $273 million in his NBA career so far, and that’s not counting the endorsement deals he’s managed to earn for himself. If he tried, he can definitely help Butler. But Butler doesn’t need help anyway, since he is earned $48.8 million this year with a player option worth $52.4 million for next year.

Regardless, Love simply illuminates what is a very serious situation for the Heat. It’s not like Pat Riley and the Heat have strong hands in a situation like this, so Butler could be around to stick with the team at least through the end of the regular season, so at the very least, Love’s presence should help diffuse any tension in the locker room.

Loss in Jimmy Butler’s first game back from suspension

With no imminent trade that will send Jimmy Butler to what he thinks are greener pastures, The Heat have no choice but to reintegrate Butler into the team — for now. This is also an opportunity for Butler to increase his trade value and convince a future suitor that he can still be as influential as he has been in the past.

However, Butler’s first game at guard did not go as planned. The visiting Denver Nuggets outrebounded the Heat by 20, 133-113, and Miami struggled defensively for most of the night. Butler scored 18 points, three rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes of play.

Could there be hope for a reconciliation between Butler and the Heat? Maybe. But that may be too far of a precipice to bridge.