Heat star Jimmy Butler led his team to a 4-2 victory over the Sixers in the second round, finishing with 32 points in the final game of the series on Thursday. Butler, who played for the Sixers in 2018/19, acknowledged that leaving Philadelphia to join Miami wound up working out for his career.
“Some things happened, and now I’m where I belong, I guess where I should have been a long time ago,” Butler said after the Game 6 win, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “A place where I’m welcome.”
The Sixers spent their money on Tobias Harris after the 2018/19 campaign, inking him to a five-year, $180MM deal while Butler joined the Heat in a four-team sign-and-trade deal. At the time, Harris formed a big three alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, with the team also adding Al Horford in free agency that summer.
“I’ve got a lot of love for this city (Philadelphia), love for guys like (Embiid), so any time we can beat a tough team, it’s special,” Butler said on Thursday.
There are more notes from the Southeast Division today:
- In his latest “Ask Ira” mailbag for the Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman considers whether P.J. Tucker has surpassed Jae Crowder in Crowder’s former role. The Heat signed Tucker last summer to fill the void left by Crowder, who left in 2020 to join the Suns. Miami attempted to replace Crowder with Trevor Ariza and Kelly Olynyk last season, which ultimately didn’t pan out. Tucker has provided versatile defense and shooting this year.
- Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel explores which Magic players will likely be with the team next season. The Magic have a young core consisting of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr., but the club will also have Jonathan Isaac returning from a two-season absence. In addition, former No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz and former No. 6 pick Mohamed Bamba could also have roles with Orlando.
- Josh Robbins of The Athletic conducts five different version of the lottery for the Wizards, speculating on which prospect the team would draft in each scenario. The NBA’s draft lottery will be held on Tuesday. Washington has a 13.9% chance at securing a top-four pick, but as Robbins notes, the team will likely have the No. 10 or No. 11 selection. The Wizards are coming off a disappointing season, finishing with the fourth-worst record in the East at 35-47.
IMO
76ers did not need salary cap to keep Butler
At that time, Simmons trade value was all time high
76ers need to get rid of one of Rivers or Harden
Rivers + Harden = playoffs failure
If I’m Orlando I go get Cam & Obi from NYK & send Cole home to his dad’s old team, possibly with TRoss. Suggs & Markelle fit each other perfectly & should be their top 2 lead guards for yrs to come. I’d probably keep RJ Hampton too. He’s gonna be a really nice guard in the league for a long time. Drafting Paolo or Mathurin (as well as adding guys like Cam & Obi) would be a huge infusion of talent on the wing. While JI’s return is obv a huge infusion of talent down low. I could def see them retaining Bamba but seems like this is a prime opportunity for them to use their cap space to upgrade at the 5
These Knicks fan trade ideas are almost as poor as the Knicks’ playoff chances over the next half-decade.
What part of what I said makes you think I’m a Knicks fan?
DC should be thinking pg with their lottery pick. Even if they hit & get a top3 pick they should look to move it for a pg. Jaden Hardy just seems sorta perfect for them if they end up around the early teens tho
They need help defensively at guard, and at the 4
They need a starting pg much more urgently
Ya…someone that preferably can defend and be a playmaker for them
Salary cap had nothing to do with PHI not signing Butler. PHI had his Bird Rights. There were no luxury tax concerns either (Embid was in his first extension year and Simmons on his RSC). The team had enough surplus cap space to sign Horford as a FA. Butler went on record with the reasons he decided to walk away.
@Sankara –
Suggs is the only ORL PG that I’d be interested in, and, based on their statements, I think I can speak for the NYK FO on that point.
Ignore “Books”. He’s trying to be Troll, but, unfortunately for him, even that takes more than just being a naturally annoying guy (which he has covered); he’d also need some knowledge of the subject matter or at least some general intellect (which appears problematic for him).
Feels like Orl has at least picked a lane for now (albeit years too late)
Time and cap are on their sides right now. If asked to engage or facilitate in trades they should only be willing if it’s an easy yes and they hold somewhat higher ground.
Any other head scratchers or gambles can be cast aside while the flowers bloom organically. This should be the easiest part of the Orl job tho often times runs into too much interference/tinkering from above. Just a gut feeling but I think Orl has learned a thing or 2 and will stay quite