NBA executives are of the opinion Jimmy Butler will not be leaving the Miami Heat in the offseason. NBA insider Jake Fischer talked about the possibility of Jimmy Butler rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason, but dismissed the rumors, noting that most executives in the league do not expect Butler to leave South Beach this summer.
“A far murkier dynamic is that of Jimmy Butler, who’s extension eligible in Miami. The Sixers, of course, have been in the Butler business before. He and Embiid maintained a close relationship, and Butler may have been the All-Star whom Morey most often attempted to acquire in Houston, sources said. At this juncture, however, league executives are of the mind Butler will most likely remain with the Heat.”
Jimmy Butler was linked with a return to the 76ers primarily due to his close relationship with Joel Embiid. The two superstars played together during the 2018-19 season in Philly but were eliminated in the playoffs by the eventual champions Toronto Raptors. Butler would end up leaving the 76ers, as they chose to offer Tobias Harris a near-max contract worth $180 million across five years.