On November 10, 2018, it was reported that All-Star F Jimmy Butler had been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The deal, in its entirety, has forwards Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton going to Philadelphia. In exchange, the Minnesota Timberwolves received Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick. Jimmy Butler brings much-needed depth and toughness to a team looking to win the Eastern Conference. However, what does this trade really mean for the Sixers and for the East?
What Butler Brings to Philadelphia
“General Soreness” is an already proven star in the NBA. This season, Butler is averaging 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Joining the Sixers, those averages put him second in points, fourth in rebounds and second in assists. What this means is that Philadelphia will be adding one of the best two-way players in today’s NBA. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what Butler brings to Philly.
Butler In The Clutch
When the game is close, it’s obvious how important play is. And likewise, this may be the time where Butler makes an impact the most. This season in the clutch, the 76ers are 29/61 from the field. That’s 47.5%, which isn’t bad, but they could be better. Pre-Butler, the 76ers relied solely on Joel Embiid and JJ Redick in the clutch. This is due to the fact that Ben Simmons doesn’t have perimeter shooting, which leaves mainly Redick and Embiid to run the offense in the dying moments of games. How can Butler?
Butler ranked sixth last season in the overall clutch statistics. This included a 109.0 offensive rating and a 117.2 defensive rating which should do more than help the Sixers. This would give Philadelphia a third option in clutch time and an extremely dangerous player to worry about. With Redick, Embiid, and Butler as threats to put the ball in the hoop, teams would have multitudes of trouble. This all comes with Ben Simmons distributing them the ball as well.
Risk or Reward?
As you can see, Jimmy Butler provides the Sixers with much-needed depth and skill in all categories. However, was this move the smartest for the Sixers as a franchise? The 76ers are reliant on one of the best duos in the NBA, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Simmons is a ball dominant, pass-first player who needs the ball in his hands. Jimmy Butler needs the ball in order to score on his own, as well. For Embiid, it doesn’t matter who’s on the team because he’ll get his share regardless. With Butler, this could mean fewer opportunities for Simmons.
Another risk that can be a factor is Markelle Fultz. The number one draft pick in 2017 has had a rough go at the start of his career. Philadelphia, in the last year, have shown patience and commitment to Fultz, hoping he’d play up to his full potential. Fultz has had his fair share of shooting problems, but there’s no doubt that he can flat out play. But due to the addition of Jimmy Butler, Fultz very well may be on his way to becoming a bust. Adding Jimmy Butler means that there’s less room for Fultz to shine. For a player that’s looking to redeem himself and work his way up in the league, Philly is no longer the place for that.
Depth is the biggest risk with the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. The Sixers had to give up Robert Covington and Dario Saric. Both were big pieces in Brett Brown’s offense. Depth is already the thing that separates the 76ers from the better teams in the East such as the Raptors, Celtics, and Bucks. Yes, with Butler, the starting five is much stronger, but beyond that, the bench doesn’t have much to offer. This can be the sole thing that kills the 76ers down the stretch later.
The Future
What does the addition of Jimmy Butler mean for the 76ers’ chances of winning the Eastern Conference? It surely does boost their chances. They now have the best trio in the Eastern Conference. We all know that can go a long way. Nevertheless, the conference is as competitive as ever, so what if the Sixers don’t even make it past the second round of the playoffs? This opens up a huge question in regards to Jimmy Butler’s contract situation.
As of now, Jimmy Butler is expected to reach a long-term deal, but obviously, plans can change. Butler’s a player driven by winning, and knowing he can be a free agent after this season, losing may drive him straight out Philly. A five-year, $190 million dollar deal is on the table for Butler if he wishes to return. However, even further down the line, Ben Simmons’ deal will be expiring as well. This would call into question if it’d be wise for Philadelphia to have three max contracts under their belt.
Conclusion
On paper, the Philadelphia 76ers are a really good team. However, everything that has been previously mentioned are all just what-ifs/predictions. No one can predict how this new team will perform with Jimmy Butler. Is Jimmy Butler the “bad teammate” that some people have believed him to be? Were the Sixers better off with just Embiid and Simmons at the helm of the franchise? Only time will tell, but for now, what a pickup by the Philadelphia 76ers.