Fansided

10 reasons we’re thankful the NBA is back

By Joshua Axelrod

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers after he blocked the final shot of the game by Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks to win the the game at Staples Center on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers after he blocked the final shot of the game by Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks to win the the game at Staples Center on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA — NOVEMBER 05: Minnesota Timberwolves Guard Jimmy Butler (23) looks on before a NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA — NOVEMBER 05: Minnesota Timberwolves Guard Jimmy Butler (23) looks on before a NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers on November 5, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

8. Jimmy Butler going full villain

Well, it finally happened: After months of grouching and actively sabotaging the Timberwolves’ plans, Minnesota traded malcontent Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to the Sixers for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick. It’s amazing the T- Wolves got the value they did for a guy nobody in the NBA should want to play with right now.

Butler publicly requested a trade from Minnesota this summer, which was within his rights to do. But when the T-Wolves refused to pull the trigger, Butler went full villain, yelling at teammates and only playing when he felt like it. It’s hard to imagine anyone in the NBA jumping at the chance to play alongside Butler after that, despite how talented he is.

Now he’s in Philadelphia, a city whose fans will probably appreciate his intensity and lack of a filter. Fit-wise, he’s a major upgrade from Covington at small forward and provides a level of toughness and grit the Sixers aren’t known for displaying. He and Ben Simmons could form quite the play-making duo, and should both theoretically be guys who make their teammates better.

There is a potentially catastrophic downside here though. When the news of this trade broke, NBA Twitter began to simultaneously pray for Markelle Fultz, whose shaky confidence is not likely to be aided by the addition of the notoriously volatile Butler. Fultz doesn’t seem to respond well to negative feedback, and Butler’s leadership style could be terrible for his development.

At the very least, the arrival of Butler gives the Sixers a legitimate Big Three to compete with the Bucks, Raptors and Celtics at the top of the East. Anything to make the Eastern Conference playoff race less of a slog is something to be grateful for.

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