Executives around the NBA expect the Sixers to make a max offer to Jimmy Butler, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his latest podcast (hat tip to SixersWire).
“I’ve been talking to some executives this week,” Windhorst said, “and the executives, I think, now believe that the Sixers will. I don’t know about the fifth year, like, full guaranteed, but yeah.”
Under the latest cap projections, Philadelphia could offer Butler a five-year deal worth $189.7MM, while the rest of the league is limited to four years at $140.6MM. Butler will be one of the hottest names on the free agent market once he officially opts out of his $19.84MM salary for next season.
Complicating matters for the Sixers is the upcoming free agency for fellow starters Tobias Harris and J.J. Redick, along with a potential rookie scale extension for Ben Simmons. With a large deal already in place for Joel Embiid, the Sixers will have to go well into luxury tax territory to keep the current team together long-term.
Butler was outstanding for Philadelphia after being acquired in a November trade with Minnesota, posting an 18.2/5.3/4.0 line in 55 games. He emerged as a leader in the playoffs, raising his numbers to 19.4/6.1/5.2 and hitting several clutch shots.
Is there a restriction on how you structure the 5th year? I mean they could offer him 4 years of Max + the 5th year at a random number like.. 19.84M.
I think 8% of first year is max decrease (in any year over year) for a Bird or EB contract. But the 5th doesn’t need to guaranteed or fully guaranteed.
So they’re doing Butler first, contrary to expert opinion earlier. I think Embiid had major say in this choice. He seemed to favor Butler in the run of play. He is more similar to Butler and Butler is at least as valuable as Harris.
Well Butler is a Star in the league & with PG13 & Kawhi the best 2 way SF.
Tobi is a very nice player, but nowhere near a star, so I don’t think Butler is as valuable as Harris, I think he can get the max, Harris should never be in the conversation for a max.
Even Clips only offered 15MM/year to him last year, so maybe around 20 is by far the most for him.
Big mistake…..
Are you thinking like me, injury risk? Because he plays hard he’s very talented can score plays tough d.
I wonder how they’ll fill out rest of the team? They need to bring back or replace Reddick. They still might need additional star power. They have no bench. Other than trading or releasing J. Simmons they don’t really have any means to create more cap space. Would be interested to see how far ownership will be willing to go deep into the tax pool.
They have about $70 million committed to next years squad, 20 of which is a butlers option. They hold bird rights for all their FAs. They can fill their team using cap space and then resign their FAs if they want. There isn’t much stopping them from signing anyone they want other than their willingness to dive deep into luxury tax territory
They only have cap space if they renounce Harris, but that seems unlikely.
Does Butler win ANYTHING in Phila?
Or does he take less and push himself to earn it?
Butler is a very good player but how far has he ever moved the needle? Not far.
If you look at the Bulls, the “needle” moved pretty far south once he left. Minnesota was a hot mess , but they were a playoff contender when he was there, and they were pretty bad when he left. The 76ers became better with Butler, he hit big shots , game winners, 3x- and was their best and most reliable option offensively and defensively in the playoffs.
I would like to see him signed and stay in Philadelphia. I think he will be better with more experience playing with the young talent they have.
sign and trade to the lakers
my thinking also, hopefully we get a player or some compensation back
Philly is smart to get out ahead of this. Butler’s been a good fit in Philly, which was not the easiest situation for a star player to come into during last season. Whatever effort they are going make to bring him back should be done before June 30th, with the expectation that he’ll commit or not by then. A home team should never let an UFA of this caliber that they want bring back hit the open market if they can help it.
Worst case you stretch his 5th year at 14.33M over 3 years.
I think you’ll get 3.5 quality years out of Jimmy.
Harris really is a 4/80M guy if were being honest. 4/100 would be fair. But someone is going to overpay. The problem is the Sixers can’t upgrade if he leaves. So gotta get him too.
76ers should absolutely bring back Jimmy as the 1st order of business. Then sign a few FA’s like Patrick Beverly as a backup PG who may end up as the starting PG if Ben can’t develop an outside shot and has to be moved to the blocks. F/C Kenneth Faried, who can play the 4 as a starter or the 5 when Joel is not on the floor,Derrick Rose backup PG or starting SG if JJ isn’t back. Nikola Mrotic fits the team nicely as a 4 who can shoot the 3, and depending on $, he/Faried might make more financial sense than to sign Tobias to a max deal. I’d look to see what I can do with other FA’s quickly and then sign JJ and Tobias, since you can go over the cap to sign them if needed. Tobias could be a sign and trade option also.
The few FAs would have to accept Vet Min or Mid Level Exception.
They kind of have too with the rumors of Leonard staying in Toronto. Clips will go hard after Jimbo.