How badly does a bridge need to be burned before it can no longer be crossed again? It's a question that several organizations are pondering as the 2025 NBA trade deadline approaches, with the Philadelphia 76ers likely asking the question louder than most.
As Philadelphia desperately searches for ways to salvage what's thus far been a disaster of a season, a bridge that was nearly destroyed may be safe to cross again.
The 76ers have battled what many have deemed an inevitable slew of injuries during the first half of the 2024-25 regular season. The result has been an 18-27 record that includes a dreadful 3-14 start, an intriguing stretch of 10 wins in 13 games, and a 3-7 mark over their past 10 outings.
Many have thus written Philadelphia off as a pretender, even if there is a measure of sympathy shown for the injuries that have plagued them.
Joel Embiid has already missed 32 games. To make matters worse, Tyrese Maxey was absent for seven, Paul George sat for 15, and Jared McCain suffered a season-ending injury just 23 appearances into his rookie season. Even when the key players have been healthy, however, inconsistency has plagued the 76ers, with George taking center stage with his uncharacteristically erratic play.
It may seem like an impossibility based on past experiences, but Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports reports that there may be a solution to Philadelphia's issues with George: Jimmy Butler.
“I've heard that Philly quietly could be a suitor for Jimmy Butler…theoretically, it would be a Jimmy for Paul George swap. I believe that Embiid is pushing for them to reacquire Jimmy. George was told by management we wouldn't trade you year one of this deal.” - @VinceGoodwill https://t.co/5gN56r3hbq pic.twitter.com/PHZnSUTng6
— Dru (@dru_star) January 28, 2025
The question is: Should the 76ers pursue a controversial reunion?
Is a Jimmy Butler reunion somehow realistic for the 76ers?
Butler and the Miami Heat are in the midst of one of the ugliest and most public fallouts in Association history. Less than two years after reaching a second NBA Finals in four seasons, as well as a third trip to the Conference Finals during that same time, an unexpected implosion has occurred.
It's eerily reminiscent of the circumstances that resulted in Butler spending 55 regular season games and a heartbreaking potseason with the 76ers.
For those unfamliar, Butler all but forced a breakup with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018-19. He was traded to Philadelphia mere months after helping Minnesota end a 14-year postseason drought, seemingly setting the tone for the rest of his career.
When Butler is at his best, he can help a team overachieve and even contend at the highest level—but when things go sour, the split is rarely amicable.
Despite the tumultuous nature of Butler's career, there's no way around how compelling his talent and, when things are going well, leadership attributes can be. He's a five-time All-NBA and five-time All-Defense honoree with a history of regularly stepping up in the playoffs.
For a 76ers team that's been to fewer Conference Finals since 1984 than Butler himself has reached as a go-to player since 2020, it's understandable for interest to exist—even if they would be acquiring his expiring contract yet again.
The question, of course, is what the 76ers would be able to offer that the Heat would find intriguing. Perhaps a Butler for George swap is a realistic goal, with Miami finding a skilled wing with elite defensive capabilities to take their former franchise player's place and seamlessly fit with Erik Spoelstra.
Regardless of what it takes, what's clear is that the 76ers aren't allowing the 2024-25 season to slip away from them—and Butler may be the player who controversially saves them.