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 took a page out of NBA legend Michael Jordan's book to announce his return to the lineup versus the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

In Jimmy Butler vs. Miami Heat, the page has merely turned to the next chapter in the saga of a player who wants out and a team that publicly remains on record as being amenable to moving him out.

Miami Heat saga has dominated NBA headlines for the better part of the season; after all, it's not every day that a superstar of Butler's caliber decides he's pretty much done with his current team. And it's even less frequent that that team who has that superstar publicly digs in its heels and chastises that star player publicly,

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

Disgruntled superstar Jimmy Butler's relationship with the Miami Heat seems unfixable according to NBA insider.

Jamal Murray scored 30 points as the Denver Nuggets spoiled Jimmy Butler’s return in a win against the Miami Heat on Friday night.

Consider Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen an expert in talking championships.  Pippen won six rings alongside Michael Jordan on the Bulls. Regardless of how

Jimmy Butler returned from his suspension Friday night in Michael Jordan-like fashion. No, not on the court, where the Miami Heat star had an unremarkable 18 points in a blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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.

The story vs the Miami Heat was about Jimmy Butler and his return to the floor, but the Denver Nuggets quickly flipped the script.