Set to become an unrestricted free agent, Jimmy Butler is expected to meet with the Miami Heat when free agency officially opens on Sunday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Butler, who was traded to the Sixers in November after a tumultuous year and a half in Minnesota, will also meet with the Rockets early this week, Wojnarowski reports. Both teams would require a sign-and-trade in order to acquire Butler, without the necessary cap space to sign him outright.
Sources: Jimmy Butler expected to meet the Miami Heat in South Fla. Sunday. Butler/Rockets meeting likely early week in LA. Sixers haven't ruled out working with Butler on sign-and-trades, which Miami and Houston need to acquire the All-Star guard.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2019A four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA guard, Butler had a bit of a down year scoring-wise next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, putting up 18.7 points per game in 2018-19, to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. A four-time All-Defensive selection, Butler is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and a good portion of his value comes from that end of the floor.
The Rockets have been particularly aggressive in trying to lure Butler to Houston. With no real cap space, the Rockets need some cooperation from Philadelphia. Rockets GM Daryl Morey's leverage is the Sixers fear of losing Butler for nothing, which could force Philly to accept a lowball trade.
Meanwhile, Butler is "very interested" in the Miami Heat, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, and the Heat may have more attractive assets to try and complete a sign-and-trade.
