The biggest decision the Sixers have to make this offseason is whether to sign Jimmy Butler to a contract extension.
According to ESPN, they might have already made that decision.
Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, executives around the league are expecting the Sixers to offer Butler the five-year, $190 max offer that only they can sign him to. The only question, per Windhorst, is whether the fifth-year would be fully guaranteed. That could end up being a big deal, however, as the extra year is the one thing the Sixers can offer Butler that other teams can't.
If the Sixers do indeed offer Butler a max contract it is hard to see him turning it down, considering he will be 30-years old by the time next season begins. Turning down a deal that would pay him huge money at 35-years old would be a very risky move for Butler, as this is likely the last time he will hit free agency with the potential of getting a max deal from any team.
Butler's only season with the Sixers had it's highs and lows last year, but finished on a high note with his play in the playoffs. The team falling to the Toronto Raptors in the final seconds of Game 7 has lead many to believe that a core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Butler would be able to potentially win a championship next season if all four are back.
To make that happen, however, the Sixers are going to have to hand Butler some major money -- and it could be that they are very close to doing just that.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
