Reports indicate that the Philadelphia 76ers are actively pursuing a reunion with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler.
Sources close to the situation have disclosed that the Sixers are ready to extend a maximum contract to the 34-year-old veteran should they succeed in acquiring him via trade during the upcoming offseason, as detailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
Butler, who currently holds a contract with the Miami Heat for one more year valued at $48.7 million, followed by a player option worth $52.4 million, is reportedly seeking a lucrative two-year extension totaling $113 million this offseason. This information stems from insights provided by Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
Despite expressing a desire to remain with the Heat, Butler could explore free agency after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season in pursuit of a maximum contract elsewhere, according to Chiang’s reporting.
While Heat president Pat Riley has affirmed his reluctance to part ways with the six-time All-Star, he has also publicly criticized Butler for engaging in trash-talking during Miami’s Round 1 loss to the Boston Celtics, despite being sidelined due to injury.
In the event that the Sixers are unable to secure Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, Butler stands as their contingency plan, Pompey reveals. George holds a $48-million player option with the Clippers.
Additionally, Sixers president Daryl Morey faces the task of negotiating a deal with point guard Tyrese Maxey, who is poised to enter restricted free agency this offseason.
Financially, the Philadelphia franchise holds considerable flexibility, boasting nearly $60 million in available cap space and the potential to leverage up to five tradable first-round draft selections on draft night, according to insights from ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
During his tenure with the Sixers in the 2018-19 season, Butler appeared in 55 games, maintaining averages of 18.2 points and four assists per contest. Notably, that season culminated in a second-round playoff defeat to the eventual NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors.
Despite encountering challenges with injuries, including former MVP Joel Embiid’s limited appearances in 39 regular-season games, the Sixers managed to secure a 47-35 record this season, clinching the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
