Jimmy Butler Will Reportedly Decline His Player Option with the 76ers

Jimmy Butler is reportedly going to decline his $19.8 million player option. When he does so he will join a starstudded free agency group.

Butler will get plenty of attention, including from his current team. The 76ers want him back. But they aren’t the only team.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Lakers are also interested in the 29-year-old, who wants a max contract from whatever team he signs with.

The Sixers were prepared for this decision, sources said.

Butler, 29, was always a top priority for the franchise, but the four-time All-Star further solidified his value to the team in the postseason with his consistent play and veteran leadership, sources said.

Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has been resolute since Butler’s trade demand out of Minnesota that any teams interested in him would be competing with multiple maximum contract offers, and that market is revealing itself to be true.

The Los Angeles Lakers have genuine interest in acquiring Butler, sources said.

Joining LeBron in Los Angeles would be an interesting move for Butler, but he reportedly would prefer another warm weather destination. He’s telling friends if Miami wants to talk, he’ll listen.

Jimmy Butler has told confidants that if Miami wants to talk on or after June 30 he would certainly – and happily – listen, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

(Of course, the “how would Miami have the $$$” portion of this equation remains most unclear.)

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 14, 2019