NBA Trades: Heat and Sixers land stars in huge, proposed deal with Cavs and Wizards

Grade the trade: Would the Sixers agree to the deal?

With reports that the Heat are unwilling to trade Butler to another team for anything less than a star, this deal might actually tempt them to trade their best player to their rival. The thought of the Sixers bringing Butler back is tempting, too.

They acquired him in a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2019, and he spent less than a season with their team before leaving to sign with the Heat. Their decision not to pay Butler has likely haunted them after he led the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals three times and the NBA Finals twice since he left. Meanwhile, the Sixers have yet to make the Eastern Conference Finals during the Joel Embiid era.

This hypothetical blockbuster would give the Sixers their best chance to do so by cashing in some of the assets they received from the James Harden deal to add a third star. From the Sixers perspective, it would seem like a no-brainer decision, even with Butler wanting a big contract extension.

Philadelphia can't afford to waste another season with Embiid, so they should go all out to build a contender around him, and that may mean finding a way to get Butler. Up next, we'll see if the Heat will agree to the trade.