Sources: Rockets, Gordon reach $54.5M deal

The New Orleans Pelicans have expressed interest in trading for Jimmy Butler with a package centered around the $36 million expiring contract of Brandon Ingram, sources tell The Stein Line. Miami is motivated to make the playoffs this season and are intrigued by the possibility of acquiring Ingram.

The Pelicans are well beyond playoff range and also are determine to get under the luxury tax. The Pelicans are currently almost $1.5 million over the luxury tax line. Butler is making $48.8 million this season compared to Ingram’s $36 million, which means that the Pelicans would likely have to add multiple lower-salaried players to any transaction.

While the Phoenix Suns are Butler’s top choice, the Pelicans join the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies as teams with varying interest in him as well.

Butler holds a $52 million player option for next season. The Pelicans could try to negotiate an extension with him should he be traded there. New Orleans and Ingram were never able to get close to an extension in their talks.

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to make a decision on his next course of action with his left knee by the end of this week, sources tell Jake Fischer. Embiid has met with more than 10 doctors for counsel on how to deal with the ongoing discomfort and swelling in his knee. Embiid has already undergone multiple meniscus surgeries.

Embiid may not need to undergo a season-ending surgery at this time and continues to hope for a procedure that would allow him to return to his MVP form. But neither the Sixers’ own medial staff or external doctors have been able to identify a path for Embiid to get right.

If Embiid were to undergo a significant procedure, he not only would miss the remainder of the current season but could miss part of next season.

Further complicating the situation is that Embiid and the Sixers appear not to be fully on the same page. When ESPN’s Lisa Salters reported that Embiid told her he likely needs offseason surgery, sources say the news took the Sixers by surprise. The Sixers, however, continue to view Embiid as their franchise star. Embiid and the Sixers signed a three-year, $193 million extension in September that some around the league now believe to be untradeable.