Rival NBA executives reportedly believe the Philadelphia 76ers will give small forward Jimmy Butler a max contract this summer in free agency, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Butler becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason once he declines his 2019-20 player option with the Sixers. If Philly doesn't offer Butler a max contract, the four-time All-Star will surely get one from a team on the open market.

“I’ve been talking to some executives this week and the executives, I think, now believe that the Sixers will,” Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective Podcast, via Sixers Wire. “I don’t know about the fifth year, like, full guaranteed, but yeah.”

Philly acquired Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves in November, sending 3-and-D wing Robert Covington and big man Dario Saric to Minneapolis. Butler averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists with the Timberwolves and Sixers this season. He shot 46.2 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line.

During the Sixers' postseason run, Butler put up 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Philly lost to the Toronto Raptors in the second round in seven games. Though Philadelphia initially struggled to integrate Butler offensively next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, he took a larger share of ball-handling responsibilities in the postseason, and the team thrived as a result.

Along with Butler, forward Tobias Harris and sharpshooter J.J. Redick will also be free agents this summer. The Sixers will most likely have to offer Harris a max contract as well to re-sign him.