The Philadelphia 76ers are ready to make a big move in the 2024 offseason and seriously challenge the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. They have the cap space and the assets to upgrade the roster around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
One realistic option is Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. Of course, the Sixers are familiar with Butler. He played half of the 2018-19 season in Philadelphia before signing with the Heat as a free agent. Since then, Butler has led Miami to the Eastern Conference finals three times and the finals twice (2020 and 2023).
However, Butler is getting up there in age and he has missed plenty of time due to injury. He was unable to play in the 2024 playoffs due to an injury suffered in the play-in tournament loss to the Sixers. Therefore, there is a school of thought the Heat will move Butler even though Pat Riley put that thought to bed when asked by Miami media.
That doesn’t mean the Sixers will not monitor the situation. Per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, they are ready to offer Butler the max if he is traded from the Heat:
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.
It is obvious Plan A in free agency for the Sixers is Paul George. However, if the George idea falls through, the Sixers will look at other options such as Butler or Brandon Ingram. Philadelphia has significant cap space and will be looking to use it to upgrade the roster. A Butler trade is one of those possibilities.
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