By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
It seems like a highly-anticipated reunion between Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler will once again be possible after reports circulated that the Philadelphia 76ers are willing to offer him a maximum contract if the Miami Heat decides to release him this off-season.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are willing to offer Butler tons of money if he decides to move on from the Heat and rejoin their organization.
Per multiple reports monitoring Butler’s contract, the superstar small forward is currently seeking a two-year $113 million max extension with the Heat.
However, Pat Riley, the President of the Miami Heat organization, commented that they are not looking into the possibility of giving Butler that kind of bag.
“We don’t have to do that for a year. We have not discussed that internally right now but we have to look at making that kind of commitment,” said Riley in a press conference.
Butler is still under contract with the Heat which reportedly cost around $48.8 million in the next NBA season and will have a player option in 2025-2026.
The 76ers, who are coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit when they got knocked out by Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, are seeking to add more pieces to their roster to finally get past the hump in the post-season.
Last year, Philadelphia released James Harden and shipped him to the Los Angeles Clippers which gave Tyrese Maxey more room to showcase his skills as the team’s main backcourt gunner.
Midway through the season, the 76ers then added Kyle Lowry, one of the most experienced point guards in the league who already won an NBA title when he was still with the Toronto Raptors.
If the 76ers are able to land the trade for Butler and finalize his comeback in Philadelphia, the squad will quickly become one of the most stacked teams in the league and will have a huge chance of a playoff success if no injuries will derail them next season.
