The Sixers went through the offseason without adding a third star to join Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but they finally got their man today when an agreement was reached to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Timberwolves.
A four-time All-Star, Butler figures to provide immediate improvement on offense and defense. He will help Simmons with playmaking duties and will give Philadelphia another proven shot maker. At 29, he provides some veteran leadership on an otherwise young team along with a fiery presence.
This appears to be the start of a long-term relationship, although nothing is set in stone because Butler is expected to opt out of his $19.8MM salary for 2019/20 and become a free agent. Philadelphia will have nearly a whole season to watch Butler in action before committing to a new five-year contract that would be worth nearly $190MM.
Today’s deal provides a measure of vindication for a franchise that had two big misses during the summer. The Sixers were the only other team LeBron James met with before deciding to sign with the Lakers. And even if LeBron always had his heart set on L.A., Kawhi Leonard was a much more realistic target. Philadelphia was reportedly in the running to land Leonard before the Spurs opted for Toronto’s offer of DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl.
The Sixers drew criticism for taking their time in replacing former president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo. He resigned from his position in early June and Elton Brand wasn’t installed as GM until mid-September, leaving a group effort in charge of the team during some of the NBA’s most crucial months.
Brand quieted much of that criticism today, with some help from owner Josh Harris, who reportedly closed the deal in direct talks with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. The East’s new Big Three is now in place in Philadelphia and the Sixers appear to have a roster that can make a run at a title.
We want to get your opinion on how today’s trade shakes up the Eastern Conference. Are the Sixers the new favorites or are they still a notch below the Raptors, Bucks and Celtics? Please leave your responses in the space below.
Just glad it is over. Both teams did alright in this and….. who cares just glad we can talk about something else.
Hate all these whiny players that don’t want to fulfill their contracts.
The players truly run this league …
No! They have no depth & there 2 best players aren’t shooters.
They will find depth and shooters once teams begin but outs .. ie. Cleveland’s Korver , I smell a coming home party or JR Smith he just smells but never met a 3 he wouldnt take
Just like to offer a friendly correction but all rumors regarding Korver are that the Cavs aren’t buying out. They want to trade him for something. If Philly gets desperate and Butler can lead the team better than BS and that loud mouth Cookie Monster Embiid, then Philly will trade a first rounder for Korver. If they truly believe they can win the East
A first rounder lmao ye right.
Houston was willing to give up 4 first rounders for a rental. A desperate thinking team that wants to mortgage the future on the backs of three young talents will do everything they can to help them succeed.
If the celtics, who are the deepest team in the nba besides golden state are having growing issues with so many stars, why and where do you think a personality like butler is just going to instantly work perfectly with 2 stars in Philly when he couldn’t in min? Guy wants to be top dog and he payed like it, unless philly gives him too reign over embiid and Simmons don’t expect a fairy tail ending philly. You are far from the best team in the east, don’t get your hopes up. Tor is still better as is Boston. Wait till we see what the standings are end of the season not a few weeks in.
Sorry for my phone and it’s stupid auto corrects
Butler will play nice w Joel and Ben ; he threw a s*** fit about being a Wolf and finally got his way , he needs to change the public opinion of him so he can get what he wants ; his money ..
I’m a Sixers fan and can say they are still not the favorite. Boston and Toronto are still ahead. This will put them back into range of the 3rd seed though. Until they can prove that: 1) They can play well together 2) Simmons and/or Fultz can shoot 3) They can beat Boston and Toronto 4) Have enough depth on the bench they are not and can not be the favorite.
If adults can figure it out Philly will make a run ; if not he better run bc if you thought Butler was harsh on Wiggy or KAT i think he would make Fultz cry
Not even Fultz but Embiid, all he does is talk s*** and Jimmy will do his little you know what the way he did Kat and Wiggins in practice. Lmao
@99 you’re on a roll
lol no
They haven’t played a single game.
They’re still with Boston in the tier below the Bucks and Raps until proven otherwise.
That’s for sure, now Philly is the best team in the east & Embiid is unstoppable for GSW, so they can very well win the championship, also the ECF against the Bucks could be awesome, the two best teams in the east facing off with megastars like Simmons, Embiid, Giannis… Wow I can wait to see it!!!
Embiid unstoppable for GS…ye right. The Celtics were to fast paced for him imagine the warriors.
*can’t
meant I can’t wait to see it!!!!
Well, they finally ran a lineup with Simmons at the 4, which I’ve suggested (to the void) before, and they looked so much better.
Korkmaz and McConnell played great too and should play more. Getting Saric out of the starting lineup was key, deal or no deal.
I mean, they lost, but I think it was a result of poor coaching.
The “void” has already pegged Simmons as a 4 or a Lamar Odom, but often in a meaner sort of way (guilty). You sound so helpful!
I agree Oconnell is their best PG option–and, he should be actually outplayed before any attempt to dump him.
No, Raps, C’s and Bucks are still better today. Bucks have the length and versatility to be a matchup nightmare for anyone, while Toronto and Boston are deeper and have more shooters.
This move basically guarantees Philly will be in the top 4, with the potential of moving up. That said, young immature big (Embiid), young wing who passes up shots and avoids late game fouls (Simmons), there is the potential for this to go badly.
How is embiid immature ?
Please, can you explain how Embiid is immature? As of now he has been the best player in the league this season… so that doesn’t make much sense to call the early MVP candidate immature…
Do you mean Simmons avoids late-game fouling, or drawing late-game fouls? In theory the latter is better than the former, but I have seen games lost due to someone’s fear of fouling.