Report: 76ers Prepared To Give Jimmy Butler Max Extension If They Acquire Him From Heat

According to NBA reporter Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia 76ers are prepared to give Jimmy Butler a max extension if they acquire him from the Miami Heat. 

“It’s no secret that the 76ers are closely monitoring Jimmy Butler’s contract situation with the Miami Heat,” Pompey wrote. “The Sixers view him as a fallback option if they are unable to sign Paul George in free agency. And, according to sources, the Sixers are prepared to give Butler a maximum-salary extension if things align and he forces a trade out of Miami.”

Butler is extension-eligible this offseason. He’ll make $48.8 million next season.

A future Hall of Famer, Butler has a player option worth $52.4 million for the 2025-26 season. He turns 35 in September.

Butler averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Heat this season while shooting 49.9% from the field, 41.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.

The Heat lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Butler didn’t play because of a knee injury. 

Butler joined the Heat in the summer of 2019 via a sign-and-trade deal with the Sixers. He has guided Miami to the NBA Finals twice. 

Butler has career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sixers and Heat. He’s made six All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.

The Sixers fell to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games. Daryl Morey is not expected to re-sign Tobias Harris, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason, paving the way for Butler or another swingman to enter Philadelphia’s starting lineup alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

Embiid, who was upset the Sixers let Butler go in 2019, has never advanced past the second round of the postseason in his career. It will be fascinating to see if Philadelphia can reunite Embiid and Butler. 

The Sixers could make some serious noise in the East next season with a Big 3 of Butler, Embiid and Maxey.

Philadelphia is projected to have around $60 million in cap space this offseason.