Co written by : Shannon Lipscomb and Theresa Balocating
There’s a big problem in the 305 - the stars want out. Tyreek Hill and Jimmy Butler want to take their talents away from South Beach, and leave Miami.
At the end of December, the Miami Dolphins had a chance of reaching the playoffs. They secured a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 and stood in second place in the AFC East at 8-8. Going into Week 18, the Dolphins needed two things to happen: a win over the New York Jets and a Denver Broncos loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Neither of those things happened.
Miami lost to New York 20-32 on January 5, while the Broncos shut out the Chiefs, and dropped to 8-9 for the season, failing to make the playoffs. Tyreek Hill was targeted only 3 times and made two completions for 20 yards, failing to live up to his nickname, “Cheetah”. Hill took himself out of the game in the third quarter and did not return. For the first time in his career, Hill did not reach the playoffs.
Courtesy of Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Whether he was watching the scoreboard to monitor the Broncos/Chiefs game, injured, or just frustrated, Hill made waves by leaving his teammates out to dry. After the game, he gave reporters some insight as to what his next move would be.
“At the end of the day, there’s a lot of things that I need to reassess about my career,” Hill said. “I gotta do what’s best for me and my family…I’m out.”
This season has been one of highs and lows for Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins struggled amidst the absence of starting QB Tua Tagovailoa due to injuries, and Hill ran into trouble off the field when he was forcibly detained outside of Hard Rock Stadium in September. Hill cited the birth of his daughter as one of the bright spots during his season.
Though no trades have happened yet, Hill made it known that he was leaving the door open for conversations from other teams, seemingly unsatisfied with his 959-yard season and lack of success. If his X account, with the username @cheetah, is anything to go by, Hill may be out of Miami sooner than Dolphins fans think.
“Love fin nation, blessing yall open doors for the Hill family forever nothing, but respect and love,” Hill posted on X.
Rumors about Jimmy Butler’s departure from the Miami Heat have been swirling on and off for quite some time, leaving one pressing question: where will Butler be by the end of this NBA season?
Courtesy of Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
Since joining the Heat in 2019, Butler has been a game-changer, leading the team to two NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023. In 2024, Butler averaged 20.8 points per game and led the Heat to the playoffs' first round. However, since his sixth season in Miami has begun, rumors about his desire to leave have grown, especially since December 2024.
After ESPN’s Shams Charania reported December 10 that the Heat were entertaining trade offers for Jimmy Butler, a report followed December 25 revealing that Butler himself was seeking a move out of Miami.
On January 2, Butler only scored a total of nine points against the Indiana Pacers, the second straight game where he sat out the whole fourth quarter.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” said Butler in the post-game press conference.
“I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
In the wake of this news, the Miami Heat released a statement, suspending Butler for seven games on January 3, citing "conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks."
Fans believe Jimmy Butler has been dropping hints about his preferred teams through his hair color changes. On December 1, he debuted blue hair during a game in Toronto, sparking speculation about a potential move to the Dallas Mavericks. Then, on December 12, he shared an Instagram story showcasing orange highlights, fueling rumors of interest in joining the Phoenix Suns.
With Butler’s suspension set to end on January 17 and the trade deadline looming a few weeks later, only time will tell how these discussions unfold and where he might end up.
After leaving their mark on Miami, news of Hill and Butler wanting out has raised significant questions about the future of the Dolphins and the Heat. Both players have been critical to their teams' success, and their potential departures could signal major changes ahead. Whether these rumors result in trades or spark internal changes, one thing is certain: fans are eagerly anticipating what happens next.
Edited by Elle Chavis and Madeleine Meneguzzi
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