MIAMI _ Jimmy Butler's Miami Heat debut was put on hold Wednesday, with coach Erik Spoelstra announcing less than two hours before the 7:30 p.m. opening-night tipoff at AmericanAirlines Arena against the Memphis Grizzlies that the prized offseason acquisition would not be available.
"Jimmy is not going to be here tonight," Spoelstra said. "It's for a personal reasons. Everything is fine. Everything is good."
Butler joined the Heat in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Philadelphia 76ers. He signed a four-year, $142 million contract with the Heat on July 6.
Spoelstra downplayed the absence.
"Everything is fine," Spoelstra said with a smile, downplaying any concerns. "The truth will come out."
Butler was with the team for the morning shootaround.
The timing of Butler's Heat debut now shifts to Saturday's road game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
