After failing to land a marquee free agent with their maximum-salary cap room last offseason, the Sixers instead turned to the trade market to secure an impact player, acquiring Jimmy Butler from Minnesota. Then they did it again a few months later, completing a trade with the Clippers for Tobias Harris.
The idea of putting together a “Big Three” has been popular in the NBA over the last decade or so, but with their acquisitions of Butler and Harris, the 76ers pulled off a rare feat, compiling a “Big Four.” Butler and Harris joined Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in a starting lineup that now features four players with All-NBA potential.
Neither Butler nor Harris is on a long-term contract, however, as both players are expected to reach unrestricted free agency this summer. The Sixers will hold Bird rights on each player, allowing the team to go over the cap to re-sign them, and Philadelphia will have the flexibility to do so. Even with Embiid’s $27.5MM cap hit on the books for next season, the 76ers’ cap sheet is relatively clean — they’re only carrying approximately $41MM in guaranteed money, per Basketball Insiders.
Of course, Butler and Harris are each expected to be eligible for salaries worth up to about $32.7MM, so if the Sixers re-sign both players, and perhaps veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick, it will be tricky to add many additional reinforcements to complement them. Adding extra help would get even more difficult in future seasons, since Simmons’ rookie contract expires in 2020 and he figures to be in line for a huge new deal of his own.
With major personnel decisions looming, the next couple months will be huge for the Sixers, who need to assess the potential long-term fit of an Embiid/Simmons/Butler/Harris core. Does retaining all four players create diminishing returns for those third or fourth options whose talents might not be maximized? Are Butler and Harris – neither of whom was an All-Star this season – worthy of long-term, maximum-salary (or near-max) investments?
Philadelphia’s performance in the postseason figures to play an important part in that equation — a first-round exit would raise serious questions about whether it makes sense to invest in both Butler and Harris, whereas an NBA Finals run would incentivize re-signing both players.
What do you think? Will the Sixers re-sign both Butler and Harris this offseason? Will they choose one or the other? Or will they go in a completely different direction, opening up cap room to pursue other players?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to weigh in!
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They can draft a bench too. Not unheard of.
Its not, but rookies are rarely ever ready to play at a high enough level for a championship contender throughout the regular and post season. Even the rookies that the Warriors end up drafting/signing are often playing minimal-responsibility roles and are doing so with the luxury of playing alongside 3 HoF players.
Landry Shamet shooting better from 3 than JJ is, just a for instance. And he was a late 1st. They could draft another gem possibly.
Zhaire is still an unknown variable too.
Are you trying to imply Shamet is better than Redick?
Do I seriously need to reply to this? Reason emojis need to be on here. Did I or did I not OP about the bench?
Just what I thought. I’m about 90% sure they’ll keep Harris. Butler doesn’t want to be a 4th wheel so he’ll go to BKN to be the leader of the team. Sixers keep Reddick, Boban and Scott and also add a solid wing who can shoot like Bojan Bogdanovic, Aminu or T Ross. I could see Ross in Philly as the starting 3.
With capholds they cant sign anyone. 3M saved if they let Amir and Patton go. 13M saved if the renounce Boban. 15.9M saved if they renounced JJ.
They can if they release Butlers cap hold, which I think they will do unless they make it to the finals.
That wasn’t including Butler’s cap hold. Butler has to decline his option first. I already calculated that in. 103 after cutting Amir & Patton.
I imagine JJ and Boban reach a good faith agreement so Philly can release the cap holds and then resign them after they add a solid wing for like 10-15mm a season.
Butler just wants to win. That’s literally why he bullied his way out of Minnesota in the first place.
Butler has been pretty clear the most money will win and I haven’t heard anything that would change that. If the Sixers max him, he’ll accept.
Making$, starring, or winning?– I think this year he is money-motivated. Next year prob different.
Philly should keep Harris and let Butler walk. Harris is the better fit alongside Simmons and Embiid and (as far as we know) hasn’t ever been a locker room issue. Butler probably isn’t thrilled about being the 3rd option and does come with some locker room related baggage.
When things get tough he will call out his teammates. So if Philly don’t make the finals don’t be surprised if Butler calls out his teammates
Tobi and Bobi
The best choice would be to resign Harris and Redick and let Butler go. Let Butler and his ego hurt another team’s chemistry. He isn’t going to age well either.
How excited are you about a minimum contract or MLE player starting at SF?
Explain that. Butler is in great shape and vanity will keep him that way. He’s not in it for the comraderie. He is an outstanding age risk.
Since his time in Chicago, Butler’s stock has steadily declined. The Bulls really cleaned up trading him when they did.
Harris — highly likely the Sixers try to re-sign him. Probably 60/40 he accepts.
Butler — somewhat less likely the Sixers try to re-sign him, but still pretty likely. Probably nearly 100% he accepts if they offer.
They have bird rights on both guys, and early bird rights on Reddick. Not sure what their cap holds will be, but they can add pieces and go over the cap to keep their own guys, right? They shouldn’t have a problem paying luxury tax, with all the money they saved in previous years
The cap holds for those guys will be quite high. $30.7MM-ish for Butler, $22MMish for Harris, and about $16MM for Redick. If they don’t plan on re-signing all three, they could renounce one or two and potentially carve out some cap room, but otherwise they’ll have to rely on whatever over-the-cap exceptions they have (mid-level, etc.).
I didnt realize they would be that high. In that scenario, I could see them still enticing someone to take the midlevel, considering it’s more money than it used to be
They basically need to retain everyone but Patton and Amir and add depth at PF. Will be interesting who would accept that MLE. Parker, Morris, Taj, Aminu? Could see Chandler returning.
I can’t see them with four maxes– and Simmons is getting better, is the priority, and will get one too.
In theory… Harris is probably preferred over Butler and Redick is a cheaper 2. Dropping Butler would give them room for a true PG, or whatever.
A PG is needed because they can’t rely on natural team flow– I don’t see any from them and they still rely on Oconnell. But.
Simmons will probably decide, directly or indirectly, the shape of the team for next season, if only for the Sixers to appease a must-sign in his contract year. They need him engaged, and he may want Butler most, if only to head off Brand getting a prominent PG that would make him a PF.
Butler will be kept if Simmons makes noises. Brand is logical and is unlikely to make it about himself.
Sign Harris, get rid of Butler as quick as you can at seasons end, supposed to be a great defender, never takes the premier player on the opposition.