Sixers Prepared To Offer Jimmy Butler Max Extension If They Acquire Him From Heat

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Philadelphia 76ers are prepared to offer Jimmy Butler a max contract extension this offseason if they acquire him via trade from the Miami Heat, sources tell Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Butler has $48.8 million guaranteed for next season and a player option for $52.2 million for the 2025-26 season. Butler would like a two-year max extension worth $113 million. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald followed up Pompey's report by indicating that "whether it's from the Heat or another team, [Butler] wants a max extension."

While Butler has said he wants to remain with the Heat, there is believed to be some level of reluctance to extend him this offseason.

The Sixers could offer future draft capital and cap relief to the Heat as they have enough cap space to absorb his contract without sending back anything in return.

Philadelphia would prefer to sign Paul George, but Butler is a secondary option.

Via Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

[elmdawgg69]

They should go for George instead of trading away the farm for Jimmy who gets injured too much and is an old dog now.

[gavran]

They should go for George instead of trading away the farm for Jimmy who gets injured too much and is an old dog now.

Luckily George is none of those things.

[Future Coach]

They should go for George instead of trading away the farm for Jimmy who gets injured too much and is an old dog now.

Not that I disagree that trading assets for, and giving a max contract to, an aging player with recent injury issues is generally a questionable decision, I think you should be aware of some objective facts...

Jimmy Butler:
- Age 34 (turns 35 in September)
- Last 5 season totals for games played, starting with most recent: 60, 64, 57, 52, and 58 games (291 total)

Paul George:
- Age 34 (turned 34 in May)
- Last 5 season totals for games played, starting with most recent: 74, 56, 31, 54, and 48 games (263 total)


With that in mind, when discussing age and injury history, there is not too much that separates Butler and George.

[FeatheryTouch]

They should go for George instead of trading away the farm for Jimmy who gets injured too much and is an old dog now.

Eh? Jimmy and PG are the exact same age and Butler has played in more games over the last 3 seasons(181 to 161) than George. He's also more of a proven playoff performer and is a certified junkyard dog.

That said Butler would cost Philly significant assets, while PG is a FA and can be signed outright. Butler has also been through the song and dance with Philly and Embiid before and isn't looking to leave Miami.

PG is definitely the more likely get for Philly but it isn't because of age or injuries.

edit: Future Coach was quick and beat me to it!

[kds92]

5 years too late

[Ssj16]

5 years too late

Agreed. I just don't have faith in Butler's health at this moment.

[GoSixersBro]

Morey is cooked.

[Bigstein09]

In a recent turn of events, the Sixers have decided to pass on Butler and instead resign Tobias Harris.

[arbsn]

This has Embiid written all over it

[MitchB3]

This has Embiid written all over it

Embiid is smart to know he needs Jimmy more than Jimmy needs him.

[MitchB3]

Morey is cooked.

Hopefully, he resigned.

[GoSixersBro]

Morey is cooked.

Hopefully, he resigned.

Punctuation is important. You had me rushing to the headlines.

[execoftheyear]

It would be funny if they trade Tobias Harris for him and Tobias ends up being better on the Heat. It's not outside the realm of possibility considering Tobias is younger and Jimmy's game could fall off a cliff as he's pretty much past his prime.

[njknicks]

Why would you trade for a player ( and lose assets in the process ) who was on your roster several years ago in his prime ( age 29 ) and did not manage to get passed the 2nd round -- with a better overall squad?

Instead of PG13 or Jimmy Butler -- Sixers should move on from Embiid. He always breaks down in the playoffs and has peaked out as player last season when he won MVP and got to the EC Semifinals. More importantly the constant injuries are a sign that is time to move on.

He still has major value and the sixers can get a huge haul to build around Tyrese Maxey.

Otherwise - go all in on PG13 - while similar skillset, more versatile then Butler.

[Slacktard]

It would be funny if they trade Tobias Harris for him and Tobias ends up being better on the Heat. It's not outside the realm of possibility considering Tobias is younger and Jimmy's game could fall off a cliff as he's pretty much past his prime.

Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler both scored the same amount of points for the Sixers in their game 6 elimination loss to the Knicks.

0.

[Pickled Prunes]

It would be funny if they trade Tobias Harris for him and Tobias ends up being better on the Heat. It's not outside the realm of possibility considering Tobias is younger and Jimmy's game could fall off a cliff as he's pretty much past his prime.

Tobias would continue to quietly give them 17/7/3 and somehow the Heat would continue to outperform what their talent would indicate. That said, it would take more than Tobias to get that deal done. I don't see him getting more than $20m per on his next deal.

[MitchB3]

Morey is cooked.

Hopefully, he resigned.

Punctuation is important. You had me rushing to the headlines.

Grammarly put the punctuation.

[GoSixersBro]

Why would you trade for a player ( and lose assets in the process ) who was on your roster several years ago in his prime ( age 29 ) and did not manage to get passed the 2nd round -- with a better overall squad?

Instead of PG13 or Jimmy Butler -- Sixers should move on from Embiid. He always breaks down in the playoffs and has peaked out as player last season when he won MVP and got to the EC Semifinals. More importantly the constant injuries are a sign that is time to move on.

He still has major value and the sixers can get a huge haul to build around Tyrese Maxey.

Otherwise - go all in on PG13 - while similar skillset, more versatile then Butler.

Sports radio caller take.