Jimmy Butler is once again forcing himself off a team and this time it appears the Sixers might be kicking the tires on a reunion.
Jimmy Butler’s quest to be the best toxic player of all time has led him to now attempt to force his way off what we all thought was what he always wanted. A championship-caliber team, with a great coach, elite contributing talent, and a franchise that has an owner with a great established culture, and focus on winning. Well after six seasons and a slight downturn in production, he wants out.
Things got so bad that it was reported that Jimmy Butler was suspended indefinitely from the Heat organization. This is his third stint this year missing time with the team over his desire to be traded, but now it feels final. Butler has probably played his last game on the Miami Heat and it is relatively safe to assume he will be traded.
Could the Sixers Be Interested in Jimmy Butler?
With the trade deadline only eight days away, this move might be happening sooner rather than later, so who could be in on Jimmy Butler? Who would want a fading 35-year-old superstar who just forced his way off of a 3rd team? Maybe a return to Chicago? Maybe Phoenix or someone like Golden State or Detroit? Or someone random like Memphis? Well if you ask an NBA writer for Yahoo Sports, Vincent Goodwill, he believes that your Philadelphia 76ers may be quietly kicking the tires on a deal. According to Goodwill, the deal would be something centered around Paul George. He said that Embiid may be pushing for the Sixers to go get Butler.
The Sixers’ Struggles and Uncertain Future
Jimmy Butler, like the Sixers, is fading out of relevance as the 35-year-old is most likely past his prime, and the Sixers themselves are in the middle of a tailspin. The “Big 3” of Embiid/PG/Maxey has been nothing short of a big disappointment as the Sixers sit at 17-27. Those three have only been on the court together for 10 games this year. They are 7-3 during those games, including a massive win in Boston on Christmas, but there does not appear to be any real path to this team steadying the ship.
With their first-round pick being top-six protected, it might be in the best interests of the Sixers to bail on the season. Embiid’s health might have been moved past the tipping point and it’s clear this roster doesn’t appear to have it. Moving guys as needed and trying to acquire assets to build around Maxey and McCain in the years to come appears like a better option than making a splash trade. Maybe you’re bad enough that you luck into Cooper Flagg? Going “all in” again on this group of guys feels like getting a swing dance reunion tour going in 2025. It is just too late.
The Case for Running It Back
BUT… what if it worked? The Sixers are not going to be able to tank enough to get anywhere near Flagg, and we know even if they did the league would work to prevent it. We know that the Sixers are still a solid roster when healthy. That .700 winning percentage when everyone is healthy and playing is an indicator of that. The role players, when they are ROLE players and not STARTERS, are solid too.
Despite their atrocious record, the Sixers are only 1.5 games back of the 10-seed which would get you into the play-in. The East is so weak for that matter, the Sixers find themselves only 5.5 games back of the 6-seed Heat. With 35 games left, the Sixers can easily climb their way back up to that spot, especially if said Miami Heat are moving their superstar. Recent reports suggest that Embiid is closer to the court than he has been. He could be back on the court in the next week or so.
Does This Make Sense for Philly?
Could an Embiid/Butler reunion be just what both guys need? On Embiid’s end, it is clear he feels the Sixers don’t have his back anymore. They aren’t really looping him into decisions that they are making, and after the team wrongly took Marcus Hayes’ side after the locker room altercation, he has seemed checked out. Going to get Jimmy Butler would show Embiid that the team does care about him and wants him to thrive. For Butler, he gets to team up with a guy he seemingly loved playing with.
Those two had great chemistry as teammates back in 2018 and now this time, instead of Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, they get to team up with Tyrese Maxey. Maybe this reignites both of them for one final run, by actually running it back seven years too late.
I’m sure Paul George wouldn’t mind spending the next 3.5 years on a beach in Miami. Especially after getting stuck in his car during the Eagles NFC Championship celebration on Broad Street. They also have an easy out as Butler has a player option this summer and can bail if he wants, allowing the Sixers to maybe finally rebuild. Embiid, when healthy, is still one of the better players in the NBA, and a motivated & locked-in Jimmy Butler could be really interesting.
While the Celtics are the beasts of the East, a Butler/Embiid/Maxey Big 3 could give them a run for their money. This scenario has perhaps a 10% chance of actually happening, but it might rejuvenate fan interest in a team the Washington Commanders owner, Joshua Harris, has successfully burnt out.
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