With free agency beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Sixers can go many different directions (“optionality,” in the old GM’s words) — including the potential to “run it back” with one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, which would be very expensive. But three key cogs — Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and JJ Redick — are all unrestricted free agents.
While Harris and Redick will have plenty of demand, speculation over Butler’s decision has grown around the league this past week. So where will he end up? The Athletic assembled a group of beat writers from what many consider Butler’s most likely destinations: the Sixers, Nets, Lakers, Clippers and Rockets.
76ers
By Rich Hofmann
1. Team’s pitch for Butler: Part of it would be the idea of unfinished business. Although the Sixers lost in the second round of the playoffs, they pushed the eventual champs to the limit and Butler had some excellent performances along…
