MIAMI — The Miami Heat have suspended forward Jimmy Butler without pay for seven games for “conduct detrimental to the team” in the wake of recent indifferent play and comments that Butler no longer believes he can be his best self with the franchise.

The timing of the move makes it likely that Butler has played his final game with the Heat after five-plus seasons with the team, with the Heat front office expected to seek a trade for the disgruntled six-time All-Star.

In the absence of a resolution by the end of the suspension, the Heat then could allow Butler to remain away from the team through the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline, and perhaps beyond, while still collecting on a contract that pays $48.8 million this season.

Because the suspension is without pay, the Heat had to receive approval from the NBA for the sanction.

According to the NBA’s suspension policy, Butler loses $532,737 per game during the suspension. Typically such suspensions are appealed, with funds eventually rebated at a later date.

The Heat at 7 p.m. on Friday issued a statement that read:

“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks. Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.

“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”

In the wake of Wednesday’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, when Butler largely appeared to be going through the motions, Butler’s camp was left with the perception that the team already was considering a suspension.

In the wake of that moment came Butler’s pointed comments after Thursday night’s loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers that he no longer saw a future with the Heat as a viable option.

While not a public trade request, which is banned by the NBA, backchannel machinations have made apparent that Butler would agree to a trade to any of the 29 other NBA teams, the Sun Sentinel confirmed.

While Heat coach Erik Spoelstra downplayed, and even dismissed, conjecture about Heat concerns over simmering tensions and unease, the Heat’s ultimate response was harsh and severe.

Butler’s ire was evoked from the Heat not only making clear they did not plan to move forward with a contract extension he has been eligible for since July, but that the team has moved to an offensive system that does not allow him to display his true worth.

Butler, 35, holds a player option for $52.4 million for next season, making him eligible to move into free agency in July. His extension window with the Heat runs through June, a factor that now assuredly has become moot.

The Heat’s options other than the suspension had included:

— Maintaining the status quo with Butler in the lineup, an approach Spoelstra initially had indicated would be the case, albeit before Butler followed with his Thursday postgame comments.

— Having Butler remain away from the team immediately with full pay.

— Keeping Butler with the team but in a non-playing role, ostensibly sitting at the end of the bench.

— An immediate trade.

Against the backdrop of the controversy has been the responsibility of Spoelstra, Heat President Pat Riley and the front office to the balance the needs and best interests of the overall roster.

Charles Barkley, during Thursday night’s Inside the NBA on TNT, proved prescient.

“Pat Riley is going to do what’s best for the Miami Heat,” Barkley said. “That’s one of the worst-kept secrets in the world. This thing’s been over. It’s been over. The situation is this: Pat Riley, who’s arguably the greatest ever, he’s not going to pay Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler’s upset.”

Barkley continued, “Jimmy’s mad. He can get mad. But this relationship has been over, It’s been over after I think some of the stuff that’s said after last season.

“So this is one of the worst-kept secrets. This relationship is over, because he’s not going to get an extension, plain and simple.”

That ultimately now appears to be the case.

Barkley concluded with, “What Jimmy’s going to have to do is start packing his stuff up.”

The latest kerfuffle with Butler comes in the wake of Riley last week issuing a statement that read, “We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

That no longer is the case.

The situation is somewhat similar to the end of Shaquille O’Neal’s career with the Heat, when publicly expressed unease by O’Neal led to his trade to the Phoenix Suns in February 2008, less than two seasons after O’Neal helped lead the Heat to the franchise’s first NBA championship.

“If Jimmy wants a trade, he’ll definitely be traded. I agree with Chuck,” O’Neal said during that Inside the NBA segment. “Pat Riley will definitely oblige him.”

If a trade of Butler is not deemed feasible or advisable from the Heat’s perspective by the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline, allowing Butler to simply depart in offseason free-agency would, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks:

— Put the Heat $47 million below the luxury-tax line.

— Remove the trade restriction of not being able to take back more in salary than sent out.

— Afford the Heat offseason access to a $14 million mid-level exception to add a player.

— Afford the Heat offseason access to the $5.1 million bi-annial exception to add a player.

— Leave the Heat with $50 million-plus in expiring 2025-26 contracts (Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier, etc.) to put into play in trades.

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