The Jimmy Butler madness has finally concluded as the four-time NBA All-Star is on his way to the Philadelphia 76ers as first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Wolves ended up sending Butler and Justin Patton in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless (cap-filler), and a second round pick. An end to the drama and chaos that had taken over the league since Opening Night.
While last week's trade brought an end to the long-drawn out madness in Minnesota, it effectively set in motion the 76er's "championship clock." Bringing in Jimmy Butler brought an end to the era of good feelings and times of playing with house money in Philadelphia. There is no more trusting of the process, the process must now garner actual results. Jimmy Butler is a twenty-nine year old All-NBA caliber forward in the prime of his career playing on an expiring deal. Butler brings experience and much needed shot-creativity to a young and struggling Sixers team. The time to win for Philadelphia is now and this trade further cements that belief.
Since drafting Joel Embiid in 2014, fans of the Sixers have been patiently "trusting in the process" and awaiting for the current roster and regime in Philly to deliver something meaningful. Last year's campaign brought about fifty-two wins and a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals where the team lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. Not too bad for a squad that was considered to still be developing and building. During last year's season, Embiid and Ben Simmons flashed the potential to work within the same system and stay healthy while complimentary pieces such as JJ Redick offered real third-option scoring threats as well from behind the arc. The key component the team was missing however was shot-creativity. With Simmons' inability to step outside of three feet from the basket to shoot and Embiid being restricted by his often slow seven foot frame, Coach Brett Brown found himself struggling to find ways to space the floor and to find guys who could knock down shots at a consistent rate.
With the departures of one year-rentals in Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilaysova and free agency producing little to nothing for the team, the Sixers were left in the dust of an Eastern Conference that saw Kawhi come to Toronto, Kyrie and Hayward return for Boston, and Milwaukee add Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. Still struggling to find space on the floor and lacking a second shot-creator, Philadelphia had to make a move in order to keep pace within the conference. Bringing in Jimmy Butler looks to be exactly that. Butler offers the ability to get the ball out of Simmons' hands and provides league-average shooting from behind the arc as well. An addition to his hustle and defensive prowess, Butler looks to bring a much needed boost to a struggling Philadelphia team.
The problem for the Sixers is that Jimmy Butler is twenty-nine years old in the prime of his career and staring down at a super-max contract this upcoming summer, somewhere in the range of 5 years-$190 million. There is no more time to give Markelle Fultz to develop. Questions about Simmons and Embiid's fit together can be posed no longer. Youth and inexperience cannot be utilized as a pass or an excuse anymore. The process can no longer be trusted, it must be executed. If the Sixers are going to win and try to put together a championship run, trading for an aging and soon to be overpaid Jimmy Butler brought that time to a forefront. Butler is not getting any younger and his salary is not getting any cheaper. While Simmons and Embiid may have long and illustrious careers ahead of them, the Sixers organization could not afford to sit idly by while the rest of the Eastern Conference passed them on up.
In summary:
The trade for Jimmy Butler makes the Philadelphia 76ers a better basketball team. Yes.
The trade for Jimmy Butler forces the Philadelphia 76ers into a championship window they may not be totally prepared for. Yes.
The trade for Jimmy Butler makes the Philadelphia 76ers one of the three best teams in the Eastern Conference this year. Yes.
The trade for Jimmy Butler could lead the 76ers to giving out a super-max contract to the forward, burdening their cap for the next five years, destabilizing their roster, and ruing their chances at ever bringing a championship back to Philadelphia. Yes.
written and edited by Jack Kurtz
