Philadelphia 76ers: A Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade might not be worth it
Rumors are swirling about Jimmy Butler and his potential departure this summer. Should the Philadelphia 76ers worry about the Houston Rockets?
The short answer to the above question is yes. The Philadelphia 76ers should have deep concerns about any team who might persuade Jimmy Butler to leave. There are valid questions about maxing Jimmy out over five years, but in the end, title contention trumps all. And the Sixers can contend next season.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, so there’s reason to believe Houston will make a strong push for Butler. There have been no reports of Butler’s interest in Houston, but it’s close to home and the Rockets were among the teams who pursued Butler last November.
If Butler has a strong inclination to join Houston, it’d be through a sign-and-trade. He would essentially offer the Sixers an ultimatum — sign and trade me to the Rockets, or I’ll walk for nothing. It’d essentially be a commitment to not re-signing.
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The Sixers would then need to weigh their options. It’s more palatable on the surface to lose Jimmy via trade, rather than via free agency. At least the Sixers would get value and depth in return, with a package centered around Eric Gordon, Clint Capela and draft compensation.
But when you dive deeper — as ESPN’s Bobby Marks did on SportsCenter — the picture becomes less clear. Simply re-upping Butler’s contract and shipping him to Houston isn’t possible, as there are other stipulations and league rules that make the process more arduous.
According to Marks, the Sixers and Rockets wouldn’t be able to complete a sign-and-trade alone. It would require a third team — one who could take on Capela’s contract and offer the Sixers value in return — to make a deal work.
Marks also notes the Sixers’ potential motivation (or lack thereof) to make a deal. If Philadelphia were to allow Butler to leave straight-up, it affords Elton Brand the ability re-sign Harris and J.J. Redick while maintaining $18 million in free cap space. That’s enough to add at least a couple role players.
If the Sixers were to take the opposite route and complete a trade, there are more disastrous possibilities than Gordon and whatever Capela fields on the trade market. That’s another avenue to depth and Gordon fits hand-in-glove with the current roster.
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The Sixers would need to get a read on the free agent market before making a final decision, but a Butler trade request presents several viable options. It’s not as simple as accepting his request or letting him walk. It’s a difficult, nuanced decision Brand and the front office would need to make.