NBA Trades & Free Agency: 4 Surprising Moves of the 2019 offseason

#2 Jimmy Butler to the Heat

Jimmy Butler

This came as a surprise. Jimmy Butler was supposedly choosing between the Lakers and the 76ers. The Houston Rockets were eyeing him to join James Harden and Chris Paul, but that did not happen. So why did he choose the Heat? I'm sure it wasn't because they can make it to the NBA Finals because they have a lot more to do before that can happen.

It's likely that Butler wants to be the center of the team and wants some control in determining the players the Heat should get to make them a qualifying team. Philadelphia hoped to give Butler a max contract, but instead gave former Boston Celtics center Al Horford a 4-year, $109 million contract and gave Ben Simmons a 5-year extension worth $170 million.

Luckily the Sixers didn't give up Butler for anything, as they acquired Josh Richardson as part of the trade. Richardson is a young guy who could be an upgrade on J.J. Redick, who signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency.