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76ers’ title hopes take big leap with Jimmy Butler trade

By Harrison Hamm

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With Jimmy Butler entering the fold, the 76ers will look to contend for a championship immediately. First, they have to find a fit for Butler.

Jimmy Butler may not be the final piece to the Philadelphia 76ers’ puzzle, nor will he guarantee a year of title contention. Questions surrounding Markelle Fultz at the point guard position plus new concerns about Butler’s fit with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid should temper the Sixers’ excitement.

But with Butler in the fold — along with 21-year-old former first-rounder Justin Patton in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2020 second-round pick — Philly usurps the Celtics as the Eastern Conference’s second-best team. Whether they’re better than the Raptors, and have what it takes to beat Boston in April and May is another question.

Butler provides Simmons and Embiid a legitimate ball-dominant superstar. Embiid is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season and further underlined his credentials with a 42-point, 18-rebound game in an OT win over Charlotte Friday night. Simmons is an interesting fit with Butler. He’s primarily played point guard this season as Fultz figures out how to be an NBA player. Butler throws a wrench into Simmons’s time on the ball and his playmaking.

Saric — who had struggled to fit effectively with the Sixers’ heavily-used lineups — will be the player to directly make way for Butler. Their highest-volume lineup, with Simmons, JJ Redick, Covington, Saric and Joel Embiid, has lacked offensively, scoring just 98.3 points per 100 possessions. Butler should help that.

The Sixers will rely on Redick (and at times Embiid) to shoot 3s, given that Simmons hasn’t attempted a single shot from deep all season and Butler is average for his career from 3. It won’t be easy for Embiid and, in particular, Simmons to adjust to Butler’s tendencies. It’s no secret that Butler hasn’t always meshed with his teammates; in fact, he’s now two-for-two for his career in eventually becoming disgruntled with his location.

According to ESPN’s reporting, the Sixers want to re-sign Butler to the max contract he wants this offseason. Butler can opt out this summer, and Philly will be able to give him more money than any other team. This could be a long-term commitment for the Sixers.

Embiid has grown into arguably the NBA’s best center this season, dominating down low and proving his abilities from beyond the arc. He’s Karl Anthony-Towns with more power and grind and slightly less deep shooting. Butler was effective next to Towns. There’s no reason to think he won’t be alongside Embiid.

Matching up with Boston, Toronto and Milwaukee in the top-heavy east is the Sixers’ primary objective with this deal — they want immediate contention and a shot at Golden State while Simmons is still on his rookie deal.

Against a defensively-stout Celtics team, the Sixers could bully an adjusting Gordon Hayward with Butler and Simmons. A Butler-Embiid pick-and-roll adds further athleticism and shooting for veteran defensive mastermind and Embiid kryptonite Al Horford. Butler won’t solve Kyrie Irving, but he could help solve Jayson Tatum.

Kawhi Leonard can shut down Butler, but he can’t shut down Simmons at the same time. Forcing a smaller or less agile player to guard Simmons could prove a big advantage against Toronto. Kyle Lowry has his work cut out for him guarding the 6-foot-10 Simmons full-time.

Butler matches up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, as does Simmons. No one outside of maybe Kawhi can truly guard Giannis, but the Sixers are more well-equipped to handle him with a star forward playing alongside a guy that can play every position.

The Sixers will suffer the most defensively. Losing Robert Covington, who generally guarded the best player on the opposing team, is a blow. Covington held Kemba Walker to a poor shooting night on Friday prior to moving off him late in the game with five fouls. Neither Simmons nor Butler can replace Covington’s perimeter defending chops, especially given their exertions on offense.

In any potential matchup with the Warriors, the loss of Covington could prove the biggest blow. Covington could handle anyone from Stephen Curry to Kevin Durant. Philly can overpower Curry on switches with the new Big Three, but Curry can rain 3s on anyone coach Brett Brown dares to match him up against. Redick would have a bigger defensive role against Golden State.

The Sixers’ offense takes a big step forward with Butler’s guaranteed scoring. Covington was no Andre Roberson on offense, but he was clearly in the lineup for his defense. Saric lacked a clear fit. The Sixers will have to find bigger roles for the likes of backup point guard TJ McConnell, big man Mike Muscala (who has looked good in bigger lineups alongside Embiid) and former Nugget Wilson Chandler.

Fultz doesn’t look like he can play big minutes at point guard. If he becomes a good player at any point during the season, the Sixers will immediately grow more well-rounded.

Any team adding Butler at this point in the season — especially one with a couple of stars already in the fold — faces a puzzle to solve. They can’t just sit back and watch Butler take over the offense. But the presence of a proven superstar can only help a team looking to win right away.

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