Jimmy Butler is “fond” of the concept of becoming a member of the Nets if he ultimately decides to depart the Warmth, sources inform Brian Lewis of The New York Submit. There’s no assure that Butler shall be coming to Brooklyn, however his unsure standing in Miami makes it a scenario price watching.
Butler holds a $52.4MM participant choice for the 2025/26 season and plans to turn out to be a free agent subsequent summer time. He’s presently eligible for a two-year extension price about $113MM, however he not too long ago said that he gained’t contemplate extending his contract with the Warmth or every other group. Group president Pat Riley expressed reservations about extending Butler throughout a press convention in Could, suggesting that his restricted availability makes it a dangerous funding. Butler missed 22 video games final season and hasn’t performed in additional than 64 throughout his 5 years in Miami.
Even so, re-signing with the Warmth stays a risk when Butler assessments the market in 2025 in hopes of touchdown a max contract. Lewis expects Brooklyn, which initiatives to have a considerable amount of cap house, to be among the many bidders, together with probably the Rockets and one of many Los Angeles groups.
There’s extra on the Nets, all from Lewis:
- After enjoying simply 15 video games final season and present process again surgical procedure in March, Ben Simmons has been cleared for 5-on-5 play and ought to be prepared for the beginning of coaching camp. Lewis experiences that new head coach Jordi Fernandez has traveled to Florida to go to with Simmons and examine on his restoration from a herniated disc. That is the ultimate yr of Simmons’ hefty contract, which is now a $40.3MM expiring deal.
- Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith each stay commerce candidates because the Nets get severe in regards to the rebuilding course of. Sources inform Lewis that Brooklyn’s entrance workplace has positioned a excessive value on Johnson in commerce talks, which explains why a deal hasn’t been accomplished but. Whereas Johnson is signed via the 2026/27 season, Lewis sees extra urgency to discover a taker for Finney-Smith. The 31-year-old ahead has a $15.3MM participant choice for subsequent season, which Lewis expects him to say no since there’s normally a robust demand for 3-and-D wings. The Nets will threat dropping Finney-Smith for nothing in the event that they don’t deal him by the commerce deadline.
- The Nets are hoping to broaden their worldwide presence by having their G League affiliate in Lengthy Island play six house video games in Quebec this season, Lewis provides.
