The Sixers don’t have long-term concerns about signing Jimmy Butler to a possible five-year contract, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Butler is set to turn 30 in September, currently playing in his eighth NBA season.
“No concern, because of the way he takes care of his body,” Sixers GM Elton Brand said, according to Pompey. “But, of course, there’s other things that would have to happen before you discuss those kind of things… like he has to opt out of his contract. So I don’t want to talk about that yet.”
For most NBA players, production levels begin to decrease as they turn the corner and reach age 30. There have been some outliers in this case during recent years, such as four-time MVP LeBron James, but teams usually give added thought before offering lucrative, long-term deals to players who are on the wrong side of 30.
Butler, who was acquired by the Sixers in a trade last November, is holding per-game averages of 18 points, 4.7 rebounds and one steal with the team this season. He can turn down a $19.8MM player option for the 2019/20 season to enter free agency this summer and seek a new deal.
The Sixers’ offer to Butler could be a five-year, $190MM maximum contract, which would help solidify the team’s “Big 3” of Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons for several seasons to come.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division tonight:
- Nets swingman Treveon Graham will be available to play in the team’s game against the Grizzlies on Friday, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post (Twitter link). Graham last played for the Nets on Oct. 19, taking the last 11 weeks to rehab from a hamstring injury. He signed a contract to join the team this past summer in free agency.
- Enes Kanter and Courtney Lee aren’t the only players who have seen their roles diminish on the Knicks in recent weeks, Marc Berman writes for The Post. Mario Hezonja, Trey Burke and Lance Thomas have also been given reduced time, with all five players becoming trade candidates for the Feb. 7 deadline, according to Berman. Knicks coach David Fizdale has prioritized playing younger talent this season, making the futures of some veterans uncertain.
- Nets guard Allen Crabbe is set to miss more time than expected with his knee injury, Lewis writes in a different story for The Post. Crabbe last played on Dec. 12 due to general soreness and will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks, with surgery an unlikely option. “No, we haven’t gotten to that point yet,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I haven’t gotten to that point. It will be a re-evaluation in a week to 10 days and then go from there.”
Ill be honest, Lance Thomas getting cut mins is the most suprising , he’s the longest tenured Knick and has always sort of just been there for minutes, but is always productive. Actually Im more surprised the Knicks didnt cash in for an iffy second round youngin and a future 2nd or two. Thomas to G State for McCaw last year would have been ok in hindsight.
Not sure I think Joel, Simmons and Butler is THAT great a “big three” actually.
It ensures they’ll make deep playoff runs for the foreseeable future. Could do a lot worse than that.
If 3 top 20 players doesn’t make a big 3, what does it then? can you define for us your view?
If they only drafted Tatum instead of Fultz and kept the Kings pick…
Tatum was NOT supposed to be a deep shooter, nor a banger or slasher. He still does not do the last two and is barely above average this year.
What is it about Tatum that you think puts him as the second-highest preference besides Fultz? Why do you think Colangelo would have traded up for that player in particular? Boston was going to take him #1, so Philly would have had to have made that trade to get him.
I don’t see Sixer fans benoaning the missing of J.Isaac or J. Johnson, equally rated forwards at that time. They should be bemoaning missing D’andre Fox, who at 21 has one of the highest PERs among PGs and possesses fluid, stress-free movement. Or picking Noel or Jah.
Ben Simmons is NOT a top 20 player.
Yet he almost averages a triple double.
The 5 Knicks mentioned should not be vilified. But I’m totally on board with tanking. The young Knicks have come together as a team that has a chance to be the best in the league at what they do: Lose. The last things in the world the Knicks need right now is solid wing defense and 3 pt shooting from Lee and Thomas, 20/10 from Kanter, and the Trey Burke comeback story. Boring, and a path back to the#8/9 pick. If Knox, FN, Dotson, Trier and/or MR, or even Vonleh, Kornet and/or Mudiay, carry them to enough wins to hurt their draft position, OK. Since, as a group, they don’t defend (Fiz apparently hasn’t gotten to that yet), any winning is unlikely to get out of hand. Plus, they can save all their energy for offense and have some individually impressive and entertaining performances on that end. Season isn’t painful at all.
So Brand respects the shape Butler keeps himself in. That will make a difference in whether they offer the big five-year deal. Is that the right article to link to on that?– it’s been linked to before, and they say I’ve used my quota.