Are the Philadelphia 76ers preparing to make a run at Jimmy Butler?
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the 76ers are backing off their pursuit of Paul George and are “expected to be aggressive elsewhere with its salary cap flexibility and draft capital leading into next week’s NBA Draft.”
The Philadelphia 76ers' interest in pursuing Paul George has significantly waned in recent days, and the franchise is expected to be aggressive elsewhere with its salary cap flexibility and draft capital leading into next week’s NBA Draft, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2024
It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out where Philadelphia might be looking next.
The 76ers for months have been connected to George as a potential landing spot if George couldn’t work out a long-term contract with the LA Clippers. Charania’s latest suggests that George and the Clippers could come to an agreement soon, forcing the 76ers to look elsewhere for a third star to flank Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Philadelphia’s interest in Butler as a backup plan to George had been previously reported. The 76ers have made it known through media leaks that if the Heat aren’t willing to sign Butler to a maximum extension that they could be.
Butler is eligible this summer to sign an extension worth up to three years, $113 million. Though Butler is under contract for next season and has a player option for the 2025-26 season, he has made it clear that he wants a long-term extension before next season begins.
Heat president Pat Riley indicated during his end-of-season press conference that he is reluctant to make a long-term commitment to Butler, who will turn 35 this summer and has never played more than 64 games in a season during his time in Miami.
"That's a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources,” Riley said, “unless you have somebody who's going to be there and available every single night.”
If Butler does not get the new contract he wants from the Heat, he could request a trade to a team that is willing to make that commitment. The 76ers, armed with more than $70 million in cap space and motivated to maximize Embiid’s window, could absorb Butler into their books without giving up salary.
The Heat, in return, could receive up to three first-round picks that Philadelphia can currently trade. That deal would free Miami from the luxury tax and give the team valuable draft capital to use in other deals.
The 76ers have made their intentions clear. They want a star, no matter the price. Butler and the Heat can officially begin negotiating a new contract on July 6. We’ll know after that if Butler and the organization can come to an understanding, or if the Heat will be forced to start a new era.