The Philadelphia 76ers have won the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes. After weeks upon weeks of one of the weirdest trade sagas in recent NBA memory, the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to send Butler back to the Eastern Conference. While a few pieces are moving in the deal, the main players heading back to Minnesota are Dario Saric and Robert Covington.
Still, while both of them are solid players, neither of them are Butler, a game-changing wing who is capable of taking over on both ends of the floor. There are some questions about how he’ll fit alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons since he’s not much of a shooter, but apparently, the Sixers aren’t concerned about that long term.
How do we know? Well, according to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, it’s something we can safely assume, as the sides reportedly expect to come to terms on an extension when Butler hits free agency this summer.
Jimmy Butler and the Sixers fully expect to reach a deal on a long-term contract this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Sixers made deal with plans to add Butler to a Big Three with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018
As Wojnarowski pointed out, neither side has to do this — if the fit doesn’t work over the rest of this season, the Sixers and Butler can certainly go their separate ways and find situations that work better for both of them. Plus they simply just are not allowed to go to the negotiating table yet.
Sixers and Butler aren't allowed to enter into a negotiation or a agree on an extension yet, but barring physical issues or Butler failing to fit into the Embiid-Simmons dynamic both sides are optimistic on a long-term future. Sixers would be paying a steep price for a rental. https://t.co/eJv11Ynfsc
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018
There has been some mutual interest between the two sides in the past, too. Philadelphia has tried and failed to acquire a big name free agent for a few years now, including Butler when he flirted with free agency back in 2015.
Jimmy Butler scheduled a free agent meeting with the Sixers in 2015 before he re-signed with Chicago. He's long been intrigued by this situation.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) November 10, 2018
But as of now, it looks like Butler has a long-term home, while the Sixers have third superstar along with their two young standouts … if it all works out, of course.
