Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid wishes All-Star small forward Jimmy Butler was still on the Sixers.
Butler and Embiid developed a nice rapport last season, but it didn't last long. Butler is now on the Miami Heat after signing a four-year, $140.8 million deal with the Heat as part of a sign-and-trade deal with Philly.
The Sixers acquired combo guard Josh Richardson from Miami in the Butler deal.
76ers center Joel Embiid, to ESPN's The Jump on new Heat swingman Jimmy Butler: "I wish he was still on the team… When it was the fourth quarter, we knew the ball would either be in me or Jimmy’s hands. I knew I could count on him."
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 3, 2019
Jimmy Butler was arguably the Sixers’ most consistent player in the 2019 playoffs, where Philly lost to the Toronto Raptors in seven games in the second round. The four-time All-Star averaged 19.4 points per game and was the team's closer in crunch time.
By all accounts, players on the Sixers mostly liked Butler and were open to running it back. Butler averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sixers.
The Sixers rebounded nicely after losing Butler to the Heat and JJ Redick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Philly signed Al Horford in free agency and now has a stout starting lineup featuring Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Al Horford and Joel Embiid.
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