The decision comes after Butler missed a team flight to Milwaukee, where the Heat are set to face the Bucks in the first of a two-game road trip

Following an 0-3 road trip that took them past the regular season's midway point, the shorthanded Sixers are tumbling into Friday’s matchup against the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Philadelphia 76ers' season is lost. It's time to embrace the tank once again, even with three max contracts and a championship coach on their payroll.

If the Heat keeps Butler past Feb. 6 and he opts out, Miami could either use a $14 million midlevel exception and a $5.1 million bi-annual exception or use about $13 million in cap space (which swells to $23 million if Robinson is released early this summer).

The Sixers have a veteran-laden roster full of players who should theoretically be of interest to contending teams. There are five Sixers who may be the most likely to generate trade calls from those buyers, but their markets -- both in terms of salary and draft compensation -- will vary quite a bit.

Just before the start of Tuesday night’s matchup between the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers at Kaseya Center, news surfaced that indicated the Phoenix Suns are stocking up for a potential Butler trade.

After Joel Embiid missed the 76ers’ annual road game in Denver for the fifth consecutive season on Tuesday, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic dismissed questions about his counterpart’s absences. “I

Jimmy Butler is on the cusp of being traded, and this Heat loss only fans the flames of a potential trade even further.

The Jimmy Butler saga continues to loom over the Miami Heat, creating some tense and uncomfortable moments for all parties involved. But Heat veteran Kevin Love is using social media to bring a welcomed element to what has become a difficult and complex situation. Levity.

The Philadelphia 76ers may have gotten past the midway point of the season but they face yet another difficult challenge with the Nuggets awaiting them in Denver.

Their anticipated starting lineup entering the season – Tyrese Maxey, George, Kelly Oubre, Caleb Martin and Embiid – has played together for 54 minutes. The second-choice lineup, with Yabusele in for Embiid, has logged 72 minutes.

The Philadelphia 76ers are dealing with injuries to several key players and it goes far beyond star center Joel Embiid, who has played in only 13 games this season and skipped the team’s current trip with swelling in his left knee.