76ers, Heat Finalizing Jimmy Butler Sign-and-Trade

By Matt Gregan, Sports Talk Philly Staff

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are finalizing a sign-and-trade that would send Jimmy Butler to the Heat. The Sixers are reportedly receiving Josh Richardson back in the deal. 

The deal will include Josh Richardson to the 76ers, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/nWFrg00mtm

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019

Philadelphia acquired Butler in a mid-season trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, giving up fan favorites Robert Covington and Dario Saric to bring Butler in. 

Butler played the closer role for the 76ers, averaging 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 55 games in a Philadelphia uniform last season. He stepped his game up in the postseason, averaging 19.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 12 postseason games last season. 

Butler, who many thought would be resigning with Philadelphia, could not come to agreement regarding the five-year contract that he wanted. As a result, he is now a member of the Miami Heat. 

The only return reported in the trade for the 76ers so far is Josh Richardson. Richardson averaged career highs in points (16.6), rebounds (3.6) and assists (4.1) last season for the Heat. He can also defend at a high level, something that 76ers' head coach Brett Brown highly values. At 25 years old, Richardson is a good addition who is entering the prime of his career while also being on a team-friendly contract (4-years, $42 million). 

This trade followed up a flurry of moves earlier in the NBA's opening night of free agency. The team lost JJ Redick to the New Orleans Pelicans and resigned both Tobias Harris and Mike Scott to five-year and two-year contracts respectively.