Since the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Jimmy Butler through a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in mid-November, they have been expected to vault to the top of the Eastern Conference. But that hasn’t happened almost two months into the trade. In fact, they are currently fourth in the relatively weaker conference behind the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers.
Over the past week, Butler has been the subject of much scrutiny after a heated discussion with head coach Brett Brown. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the two had an altercation that was quite disruptive to the team’s chemistry.
In Brown’s eyes, however, Butler didn’t cross a line at all and that it was fine with him. Curiously, he also thought these “talks” are enjoyable, too.
“I have had many meetings with Jimmy over the duration since I have coached him,” Brown said in response to the report. “I enjoy it. I don't mind talking to my players. In that film session that was referenced, I didn't feel like any of that crossed the line, and if it did, it would have been dealt with, quickly… We'll move on.”
Brown continued to defend Butler, making it clear that his player was treated unfairly.
“I think in a crazy way it's unfair to Jimmy Butler,” Brown added. “The history that Jimmy has had with other programs, other coaches, that's not fair with the description of that particular film session that was referenced. In my eyes that's not it. And if it crossed a line, we would talk about it soon, and I would own it, and it would be fixed.”
More than anything, the issue was about how Butler wanted to be used in the offense and that is what caused the confrontation.
“He wanted to be in more pick and rolls. That was true,” Brown added. “My job is to make this work.”
Despite Brown’s defense, there are those who continue to believe that the Sixers are going to implode because of Butler’s abrasive personality and that team chemistry will suffer because of him. The thinking is that the Sixers have not catapulted to the top of the conference in the way that everyone wanted them to since he came aboard because of chemistry issues. They improved but they should be better.
But is it really that simple to determine whether the Sixers are falling short of expectations? And is Butler really going to destroy the team internally the way some believe it will happen and that he has to be traded before then?
Trading Butler
According to Bleacher Report’s Yaron Weitzman, the Sixers have already received an inquiry about Butler’s availability after the report from Wojnarowski.
“An opposing team has already called to ask if this latest blowup means Butler might be on the market, according to league sources. This, as rumors swirl around NBA circles that the Sixers, spooked that Butler will bolt when he becomes a free agent this summer, are contemplating dealing Butler before the trade deadline.”
Weitzman noted, though, that based on league sources, Philly has never really considered trading Butler. They traded for him with the hopes that he would be the missing piece that will bring the team closer to a championship this season. His free agency may be staring them in the face regardless of how close they come to achieving that goal, but management is of the belief that Butler is untouchable.
Why?
The Sixers with Jimmy Butler
Contrary to what the standings may say, the Sixers have been playing extremely well from the moment that Butler was added to the lineup. James Herbert of CBS Sports said, prior to last night’s win against the Washington Wizards, that the team’s starting lineup (J.J. Redick, Wilson Chandler Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid) has outscored opponents by 17.6 points per 100 possessions in 205 minutes of playing together.
Prior to his arrival, the team had a dreadful 5-9 record. In the 22 games that he played since the trade, they have gone 16-6, a .727 winning percentage which is superior to that of the Toronto Raptors who have the best record in the league at 31-12. During those games, he has averaged 18.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 steals while playing in only 31.5 minutes per game. That’s his lowest average playing time since his second season in the league.
Additionally, during the four games that Butler missed after the trade, they won only two.
If anything, the Sixers have benefitted immensely from having the former Timberwolf on the team.
Butler is far from causing an implosion within the Sixers. More accurately, he’s been arguably their most important player if not their most valuable. If Butler had been on the team from the start, their record today would be 32-9 based on their winning percentage with him playing. They would be the Best of the East right now if they only had the All-Star forward on board when the season started. As it is, they’re playing quite well even beating the aforementioned Raptors by 25 in late December.
If things continue to get better, it’s possible that Butler might just end up playing for the Sixers for the rest of his career.
Early Retirement for Butler
Butler told Keith Pompey of The Inquirer that he doesn’t intend to play basketball for a long time after he was asked how he thinks his game will be like by the time he’s 35.
“I don't plan on playing this game when I'm 35 years old,” the 29-year-old Butler said.
“So I'm not even worried about that,” he added. “I'll be done with this game before I'm 35.”
A follow-up question was asked about how many years he intends to play in the league.
“That’s between me and whatever I tell myself later on,” Butler said. “But, I’m telling you right now, 35, I’m trying to be done before then.”
Pompey also noted that if he opts out of his current deal and becomes a free agent this summer, the Sixers have the right to offer Butler a five-year deal max contract amounting to $190 million. That deal would take him all the way to his 34th birthday which would be right around the time he said he would like to retire from the game, providing him with the financial security he needs as a retiree.
Signing with another team would be pointless for him as he would be $50 million dollars less richer. The most that other teams can offer him would be a four-year $140 million max contract.
The four-year All-Star is still in the prime of his career and his recent retirement statement should encourage Sixers fans more than anything. If Butler continues with this line of thinking by the time negotiations on a new contract start this July, he will more than likely re-sign with the team.
So let’s hold off on those trade talks already, folks. Butler isn’t going anywhere barring any soap-opera type of falling out between him and the Sixers brass.
Championship Contender
The goal entering the season was to take the next step in winning a championship for the City of Brotherly Love. The addition of Butler gave the Sixers a third key player to help them that goal both on paper and on the floor. Based on their performance since he arrived, the eight-year veteran has been nothing but a positive influence for the team, sacrificing stats (he was averaging 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals on 36.1 minutes per game for Minnesota) in favor of the team’s share-the-ball offense.
His one request from Brown was that he be involved in more pick-and-roll action than usual so he can play more comfortably in the offense. That has been his strength over the past few years and the team only needs to incorporate it more often when Butler is on the floor. Maybe Brown can integrate a few more isolation plays, too, for one of his best players.
The more that he becomes a featured part of the offense, the better the Sixers will be and their chances at making the Finals will increase. As long as Philly keeps winning, all the naysayers who pronounce doom upon the Sixers will be silenced. Butler just wants to win and if Brown thinks their confrontation was “enjoyable,” wait ‘til they start racking up more wins in the coming weeks. He’ll probably think it’s hilarious by then.
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