Huge Sixers / Heat Trade Rumor Emerges

Jimmy Butler was a favorite of Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid when they played together in the City of Brotherly Love for 55 games back in 2019. And it appears that Embiid sees an opening in Butler's need to get out of Miami, to have a reunion. And he's willing to give up Paul George to do, so per Vince Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.

“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.” 👀

- @VinceGoodwill

(h/t @dru_star )

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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 28, 2025

“I've heard that Philly quietly could be a suitor for Jimmy Butler…theoretically, it would be a Jimmy for Paul George swap. I heard that Joel Embiid, who still loves Jimmy Butler, is pushing for them to reacquire Jimmy," said Goodwill.

To be clear, he's not saying that Embiid is pushing for George to be traded, and in addition, Goodwill says that the Sixers management promised PG that he would not be traded in his first year with the team.

Butler averaged 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in his half-a-season plus in Philly. The Sixers looked like a strong contender to come out of the Eastern Conference that year, until they met up with Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors in the second round, and fell victim to the bounce shot heard 'round the world.

It's been a disastrous first season in Philadelphia for George, whose scoring is down over six points a game from where it's been the last several years, and the Sixers are 17-27 and in 11th spot, not even in a Play-In position in the East. A shake-up like this proposed deal could be the answer to change Philly's fortunes.

But there are several other teams thought to be closer to acquiring Butler as trade talks with Miami advance.