Brett Brown played a role in Jimmy Butler leaving 76ers

The 76ers chose Brett Brown over Jimmy Butler

The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t short on big names and star power, but Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics are making sure Philly struggles in the playoffs. Playing without Ben Simmons due to an injury, Joel Embiid and the 76ers are currently on the brink of elimination after going down 3-0 in their first-round series. Head coach Brett Brown and the front office shouldered a lot of the blame, in part due to their decision to let Jimmy Butler leave as a free agent.

Keith Pompey of the Inquirer is reporting that Brown was unnerved by Butler’s brash personality and willingness to speak his mind. As a result, Butler was allowed to go to the Miami Heat in free agency, while the Sixers replaced him by signing Al Horford and giving Tobias Harris a $180 million contract.

Brett Brown has struggled in the postseason without Butler.

After winning just 75 games in his first four seasons in Philly, Brown has topped 51 wins and led the team to the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the last two seasons. Repeating that feat could prove more difficult this season. Simmons is out for the year, Horford had his lowest points-per-game average since 2008, and Harris is shooting 16-51 in the postseason.

Butler, meanwhile, was named an All-Star for the fifth-time, averaging just under 20 points-per-game for a Heat team that is one win away from sweeping the No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers in his first-round playoff series.

The Sixers, on paper, should be title contenders given the surplus of height, versatility and talent. However, Simmons and Embiid clogging the lane with Harris ineffectively shooting has proven to be a poor offensive system. Philly might need to wheel and deal in order to revamp or blow up this roster.