Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia 76ers enter this summer with a mountain of roster-reshaping tools at their disposal. Frankly, they have far more flexibility than you almost ever see from a team already possessing the potential high-end outcomes afforded to Philly by its superstar pairing of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The Sixers nearly have blank-slate financial books, meaning they can splurge on a max-contract star and more before circling back to give Maxey his well-earned pay raise. They also have some draft picks to throw around on the trade market, in case free agency doesn't offer up the difference-maker they're after.
Speaking of which, they're already building a blueprint for finding said needle-mover. Paul George tops the wish list, but they see a Jimmy Butler trade "as a fallback option" if they can't get George, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who added they are "prepared to give Butler a maximum-salary extension if things align and he forces a trade out of Miami."
It makes sense to prioritize George for a couple reasons. He's a better shooter and less ball-dominant than Butler, which should make him a cleaner complementary fit to the Embiid-Maxey combo. Plus, adding George in free agency wouldn't cost the Sixers anything other than cap space, while a Butler trade would require surrendering actual assets.
If George isn't possible, though, Butler's experience, tenacity, toughness and creation would all be welcome additions to this squad.
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