Philadelphia 76ers small forward Jimmy Butler can become an unrestricted free agent after this season ends if he declines his 2019-20 player option with the Sixers, and rival teams believe that Butler will eventually decide to take meetings with interested suitors once free agency begins on July 1, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Jimmy Butler will decline his 2019-20 player option because he can make more money on the open market. With the news coming out on Friday that Butler had a disrespectful interaction with Sixers head coach Brett Brown, there is reportedly concern in Philadelphia about Butler's long term future with the franchise.
Butler, 29, can become a free agent this summer, and the organization's preference has been to re-sign him to an extension. Rival teams believe that Butler will eventually decide to take meetings with interested suitors in July. Butler's preference has been to sign a more lucrative deal to remain with the Sixers, but it's clear that there are issues to be worked out before that comfort level fully exists.
The Sixers acquired Jimmy Butler on Nov. 12, 2018 from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The four-time All-Star has appeared in 21 games with Philly and is averaging 18.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from beyond the arc and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line.
There is no doubt that Butler is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, but his attitude and character have been an issue in Chicago and Minnesota, and now it looks like the same thing is happening in Philadelphia. That could cause some teams to not pursue Butler in the offseason.
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