The countdown is about to move within a week of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline when it comes to the Miami Heat’s next step with Jimmy Butler. In other words, go-time. For now, the veteran forward remains on unpaid team suspension through at least that deadline,

The NBA trade deadline draws closer by the day, and as always, the transaction cycle remains headlined by the same small group of players. On Monday, the Miami Heat suspended Jimmy Butler indefinitely after he walked out of a shootaround upon receiving the news that he would be benched.

The Jimmy Butler trade saga is starting to heat up as the Feb. 6 trade deadline draws near. The veteran forward was recently handed an indefinite suspension by the Miami Heat, which could ease the way to him being traded in the coming days.