“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be.”

With that postgame comment Thursday, Miami’s Jimmy Butler all but confirmed a report that he has asked the Heat for a trade, a story broken by Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has indicated to the Miami Heat he wants the team to trade him, league sources told ESPN. Butler does not plan to furnish the Heat with a list of favored destinations, sources told ESPN. He is open to playing anywhere other than Miami and believes he can make any team a contender — no matter where he is moved. He does plan to take part in all team activities and do whatever the Heat ask of him during this process, sources said.

Butler’s postgame comments echoed that sentiment.

“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said. “I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”

When asked if he can get his joy back on the court with the Heat, Butler responded: “Probably not.”

Butler trade rumors have been flying around the NBA since he didn’t get a contract extension with the Heat last summer (while Bam Adebayo did at three years, $165.8 million). The rumors reached the point that Heat President Pat Riley tried to squash them.

That did not stop the speculation, although the vibe among league executives at the NBA’s G-League Showcase last month was that it might be summer before Butler was traded, just because a deal that would satisfy Miami is hard to construct. Because Miami is already over the first apron of the luxury tax, it is not allowed to take back $1 more in a trade than it sends out — and most of the teams interested in Butler are in the same situation. Any Butler trade likely involves the Detroit Pistons as a third team, the one team with cap space heading into the trade deadline, meaning they can take on a mid-level exception-sized contract to facilitate a trade.

It’s still not easy to make work. Phoenix is known to have an interest in Butler, but the only way to make that trade work is to send Bradley Beal to Miami. Beal has two years and $100.8 million left on his contract after this season. Do the Heat want to take on a player not as good as Butler right now making that kind of money? The Warriors are known to have interest as they search for a star to put next to Stephen Curry, but the only way to make a Miami/Golden State trade work is a four-or-five-for-one trade with the Warriors such as the Warriors sending out Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Kyle Anderson (there likely would be draft picks in mix, also). How high are the Heat on Kuminga, and do they want to have to let go of players on their roster to make this deal work?

Butler’s people saying they are open to a trade to any team tries to open the door to other teams. However, whoever trades for Butler will have to re-sign him or extend him — Butler has a $52.4 million player option and could theoretically walk away from that money and be a free agent (the more likely scenario is he opts into that final year and gets a two-year extension off that, maybe at a lower number than he has been making).

Butler, 35, is still a force on the court most nights, averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists a game this season. He is known as a two-way playoff performer who can help a lot of teams, but how many teams want to get into the Jimmy Butler business for multiple years?

We’re going to find out now that Butler and his camp have tried to crank up the pressure to get a trade done. However, Miami will not settle. Some team is going to have to step up with a quality offer to get a deal done, this is no fire sale.

From a standings perspective, the two worst teams in the ACC will look to pick up their first win in conference play. The Miami Hurricanes (4-9, 0-2) will stay on the road and battle the Virginia Tech Hokies (5-8, 0-2) Saturday afternoon at the Cassell Coliseum.

Miami continues to find ways to lose games after a strong showing. The issue is not being about to finish games. Virginia Tech is the opposite. They have lost games by constant blowouts but their most recent game was a victory against Navy.

The star of the Hurricanes this season has been Matthew Cleveland who has started to find his own.

Matthew Cleveland’s Confidence is ‘at an All Time High’ Entering ACC Play

Against Boston College he was all over the floor playing like the huge guard that he is.

Cleveland has been the loan’s bright spot this season as he had another impressive performance. He finished the game with a game-high 21 points, shooting 7-17 FG, 2-4 3FG adding in three blocks and one steal.

The Hurricanes will look to get the first conference win of the season as they try to push towards an attempt at the ACC Tournament.

WHO: Miami (4-9, 0-2 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (5-8, 0-2 ACC) Sat. Jan. 4 at 2:00 ET.

WHERE: Cassell Coliseum

TV: ESPN+/ACC Network

Series Miami 9, Virginia Tech 6: Each team is struggling and looking for their first ACC Win. The Hurricanes are holding on to a four-game winning streak against Virginia Tech as they look to continue their win again.

Last Time, Out Miami: The Hurricanes dropped its ninth game of the season against Boston College after failing to hold off the Eagles from a 19-point lead. Matthew Cleveland led both teams in scoring with 21 points.

Last Time, Out Hokies: Virginia Tech was blown out by No. 4 Duke where projected No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg scored 24 points as Tobi Lawal was the Hokies leading scorer with 19.

READ MORE FROM MIAMI HURRICANES ON SI:

Bill Courtney Prepares Miami Men’s Basketball Team in a Post Larranaga Era

Matthew Cleveland’s Confidence is ‘at an All Time High’ Entering ACC Play

Everything Miami Interim Head Coach Bill Courtney Said in First Press Conference

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