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Jimmy Butler Rumors: Execs Believe 76ers SF Will Prioritize 5th Year in Contract
June 29, 2019
If the Philadelphia 76ers want to retain Jimmy Butler, one enticing factor for the four-time All-Star will be getting a five-year contract.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, opposing teams are under the impression Butler and his agent will make the fifth year in his deal a priority in their discussions with Philadelphia.
If Butler ends up leaving the Sixers, he could still end up with a five-year deal in a sign-and-trade scenario.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets want to recruit Butler and talk Philadelphia into a sign-and-trade scenario with potentially some combination of Eric Gordon, Clint Capela and PJ Tucker going back to the 76ers.
ESPN's Zach Lowe reported the Miami Heat also "could draw Butler’s interest" as a potential sign-and-trade partner.
Despite the outside interest in Butler, Charania noted the Sixers are "fully focused" on retaining him and Tobias Harris.
Philadelphia only caught a glimpse of what its nucleus of Butler, Harris, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons is capable of. That quartet, which played 21 games together between the regular season and playoffs, took the 76ers to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors.
It would seem to be in the Sixers' best interests to run things back with Butler as they attempt to finish the process and get back to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2000-01 season.