Had the NBA offseason played out differently, Jimmy Butler would have been at Barclays Center on Saturday night.
The Philadelphia 76ers tried to engage the Miami Heat about a potential trade for Butler over the summer, Yahoo Sports reported Friday, but a deal never came to fruition.
Instead, the Sixers signed fellow forward Paul George to a four-year, $212 million contract, adding him to a star-powered roster already featuring center Joel Embiid and point guard Tyrese Maxey.
News of the 76ers’ offseason exploration surfaced ahead of their game against the Nets in Brooklyn, however, because Butler’s situation in Miami has soured, presumably to the point of no return.
On Friday, the Heat suspended Butler for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team” and said it would listen to trade offers for its franchise player.
“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the Heat said in Friday’s statement.
Just eight days earlier, president Pat Riley had said the Heat would not trade the six-time All-Star.
Friday’s suspension came a day after Butler scored only nine points in a 128-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers and did not play the fourth quarter.
“I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball. Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said after the game. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
Asked if he could find joy in Miami, Butler replied, “Probably not.”
Trading Butler comes with complications. He is 35 years old. His 17.6 points per game mark his lowest average since 2013-14. He is expected to decline his $52.4 million option for next season and test free agency.
Last month, ESPN listed the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks as being among Butler’s preferred landing spots.
The Sixers’ interest during the offseason, according to Yahoo Sports, stemmed from Embiid’s desire to reunite with Butler, who spent most of the 2018-19 season with Philadelphia after being traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Butler had similarly asked his way out of Minnesota over contract issues.
Butler then joined Miami during the 2019 offseason in a four-team sign-and-trade. At the time, the Sixers signed Tobias Harris and Al Horford and further handed the offense over to point guard Ben Simmons.
In 2021, Embiid said not re-signing Butler was “a mistake.”
The following year, Embiid and Butler were effusive about each other after the Heat advanced past the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“I love him,” Butler said. “I’m proud of him. Yes, yes, yes, I still wish that I was on his team. I definitely love the Miami Heat, though, man. I’m glad that I’m here, but I’ve got so much respect and love for Joel Embiid.”
The championship-hopeful Sixers entered Saturday night’s game as one of the NBA’s biggest disappointments — with a 13-19 record and as the East’s No. 11 seed — but had won eight of 12 games after a 5-15 start.
A knee injury, a sinus fracture and a three-game suspension for shoving a columnist limited Embiid to only 12 games through the Sixers’ first 32. A knee injury limited George to 22. Both were in Saturday’s starting lineup.
Trading for Butler would be especially complicated for the 76ers, considering they and the Heat are both above the NBA’s first salary apron, but below the second, meaning neither can take back more salary than they send in a trade.
Embiid ($51.4 million) and George ($49.2 million) are the only Philadelphia players with higher salaries than Butler’s $48.8 million.
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