Philadelphia 76ers: Jimmy Butler is transforming The Process

The acquisition of Jimmy Butler is doing wonders for the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers felt they needed another star player to complement Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Seven games into his 76ers tenure, Jimmy Butler is changing Philly for the better.

Three weeks ago, the 76ers were off to a slow and worrisome 6-5 start. They were inconsistent, struggling to beat good teams, and were a team in disarray; first-year general manager Elton Brand viewed the situation as an opportunity to make his first statement move – which was acquiring Butler.

Trading starting forwards Dario Saric and Robert Covington, guard Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick for Butler and center Justin Patton, Brand and the 76ers put the NBA on notice: they’re all in on winning now, not down the road. And it’s a plausible approach.

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After five consecutive playoff deprived seasons, the 76ers’ youth stayed healthy and prospered in the 2017-18 season, winning 52 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Embiid took the next step in his game and is now arguably the most complete center in the NBA after Anthony Davis; Simmons showcased the ability to be a two-way star running the point for head coach Brett Brown’s offense; free agent signee J.J. Redick provided a reliable outside shooting threat.

This season has been more of the same for those three. Embiid is averaging career-highs in points (28.1), rebounds (13.3), and assists (3.5) per game; Simmons has been the triple-double threat that keeps the 76ers offense running and locks down his cover; Redick is averaging a career-high 18.1 points per game. When your two young stars are blossoming, you have some reliable veteran players, such as Redick and Wilson Chandler, and are already a conference threat, it’s time to look into making a blockbuster trade or signing.

Sure, trading Covington and Saric devoid the 76ers of an established perimeter defender and an intriguing offensive talent, but Butler’s impact on their roster has been monumental. In the seven games he’s played, the Houston native has averaged 20.3 points per game on 51.5 percent shooting from the field and 55.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. His efforts have assisted the 76ers in winning five of their last seven games and improving to 14-8.

Butler is a two-way force. He’s a bonafide and well-rounded scorer, a shutdown defender, and one of the best players in the NBA. The nagging issue with Butler is the supposed baggage that comes with his presence.

Butler was severely criticized for the situation that unfolded between he and the Timberwolves. A big part of his disgruntled perspective towards the Timberwolves was that he didn’t like their effort, particularly on the defensive end. But, for the 76ers’ sake, someone of his mindset could be just what they need to become a force to be reckoned with.

You could argue that the 76ers and Timberwolves are similar in that the bulk of their best players are under 25. But the reason why their rosters are not identical is that their star youngsters, Embiid and Simmons, are defensively sound players.

A big concern when the 76ers acquired Butler was that he’d expect to be the go-to option offensively, which could potentially stunt Embiid and Simmons’ production. But, so far, the opposite has been the case. Butler has been a focal point of their offense – as he should be – but there’s no vibe that he’s harming any individual in their rotation. In fact, all he’s done is make everyone else better.

Butler is taking the pressure off the 76ers to pick up the slack behind Embiid and Simmons given his well-rounded offensive game. Embiid is still the engine of Brown’s offense, Simmons runs the show, and Butler plays to his capabilities without the ball being forced to him. And, in crunch time, the 76ers have a go-to player in their new wing.

On the other end of the floor, Butler and Simmons form a tantalizing defensive duo; they’re two of the best isolation defenders in the sport. And the fact that every one of the 76ers big three (Embiid, Simmons, Butler) plays competent defense is dangerous.

Going into this season, the 76ers were viewed as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But to classify them as a powerhouse would’ve been an overstatement. They were young, their core was coming off their first playoff appearance, and, as a whole, they had to prove themselves. With Butler in the fold, the 76ers are posing a lethal threat.

One could argue the 76ers are not as deep as the Toronto Raptors, or talented as the Boston Celtics. But the Raptors continually hit a wall in the playoffs and the Celtics are hovering around .500. Who will represent the East in the NBA Finals this season is anything but a given, and the 76ers are making the race even more compelling.

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Butler looks happy, is playing to his strengths, and the 76ers are reaping the benefits. There are still questions that need answering with this team. Will their bench be able to hold down the fort? Will they hit a wall of their own in the playoffs? Will the Markelle Fultz situation take its toll on the 76ers, as a whole? Will their big three be able to play with cohesion down the stretch of playoff games? But, for the time being, there’s little to complain about with the state of things in Brotherly Love.

Last season, the Philadelphia 76ers made the playoff jump. This season, Butler is transforming the process into a true contender.