(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Miami Heat are facing a pivotal offseason, and for the first time in a while, there is a feeling their team could look considerably different next season.
A lot of that uncertainty surrounds Jimmy Butler, their leader and best player, as he is a year away from being able to opt-out of his contract and become a free agent.
There has been speculation that he could be traded this summer, and whether he gets traded or not, he wants a max contract extension, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
Jimmy Butler wants a max extension this offseason, preferably from the Heat. But whether it’s from the Heat or another team, he wants a max extension.
Or Butler can become a free agent by declining his player option next offseason and look for a max contract then. https://t.co/RIX8nXrvmt
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) May 28, 2024
Ever since he came to the Heat in 2019, Butler has been their centerpiece, and he has embraced the Heat’s much-lauded culture.
While he may not be an elite player based on his production, he is absolutely an elite player come crunch time, and his exploits in late-game situations remind many of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Behind those exploits, the Heat have gone to the NBA Finals in two of the last five seasons, but with Butler out of the playoffs this year, they exited in the first round.
If Butler does get traded, the Philadelphia 76ers could be interested, and they would reportedly offer him that max extension if they were to land him, per Keith Pompey.
The Philadelphia 76ers are prepared to offer Jimmy Butler a full max extension if they land him in a trade, per @PompeyOnSixers pic.twitter.com/F2GNewHqMg
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 28, 2024
Butler played for the 76ers during the 2018-19 season after arriving in a midseason trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and for a minute, it looked like they had a potentially great team with him, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid.
Embiid has since gone from great to dominant, while Simmons has left and has essentially been replaced by Tyrese Maxey, who has blossomed into a legitimate star.
Adding Butler to that mix could potentially make Philly a bona fide championship contender right away.
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