After more than two months of drama and speculation, the Jimmy Butler saga is finally over with the Minnesota Timberwovles as the four-time All-Star was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Butler's arrival in Philadelphia came as a surprise to most players following the story. Moreover, now that the deal is done, word around The Association is that Butler's addition makes the Sixers' defense “scary good,” per Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype.
Most NBA players were following the Jimmy Butler saga (some closely, some casually) and everyone is pretty shocked right now. Many thought he'd end up in HOU or MIA. They're surprised that he landed in PHI (and several have stressed that PHI's defense is going to be SCARY GOOD).
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) November 10, 2018
The trio hasn't even spent a minute of NBA basketball on the court together, and yet, they are already getting a lot of hype.
The Sixers swung for the fences and traded key pieces Dario Saric and Robert Covington in exchange for a disgruntled Timberwolves star who did not want to be on his team. With Butler on-board, the Sixers now have a legitimate big three on their hands in Butler, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid.
Butler is one of the best defenders in the league. Adding him alongside one of the most elite interior defenders in the league in Joel Embiid certainly solidifies the claims of the players regarding the Sixers defense. Moreover, sophomore star Ben Simmons is already proving himself as one of the top defensive swingmen in the league. With two top-tier wing defenders and a monster defensive presence in the paint, it's easy to see why players around the league are already taking notice of what the trio will be capable of doing on a nightly basis.
Philadelphia currently sits at 10th in defensive rating in the 2018-19 season, and finished 4th last year. Butler's addition makes their defense better than it already is.
It's safe to say the Sixers are going all in, and the clamps are already on.