6. Electing to sign Tobias Harris to a max deal instead of Jimmy Butler (2019)
Somehow, the Philadelphia 76ers managed to trade for both Jimmy Butler AND Tobias Harris during the 2018-19 season. Philly ran out a starting lineup in the 2019 NBA Playoffs of Embiid, Simmons, Butler, Harris, and sharp-shooter J.J. Redick. They. Were. Deep.
The 76ers were finally poised to make a run at the NBA championship. It looked as if “The Process” had worked. Philadelphia won 51 games that season and was the East’s three-seed. They made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and battled the Toronto Raptors in an epic seven-game series capped by Kawhi Leonard’s memorable game-winner in Game 7.
Jimmy Butler was set to become a free agent and was seeking a max deal. Tobias Harris was also set to be a free agent who was seeking a max deal. The 76ers had to choose one or the other. They couldn’t afford both. Elton Brand chose to sign Harris and let Butler walk.
Harris has been solid in Philadelphia ever since and it could be argued that he has been under-utilized in the offenses centered around Embiid. Still, Harris isn’t the player that Butler is.
Jimmy Butler has helped lead the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals appearances in the last four seasons. Philly still hasn’t passed the East semis. Making matters worse, Butler’s Heat eliminated the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2022 and let the 76ers know they made a mistake.
Fans of the Philadelphia 76ers were asked to “Trust the Process.” Their team became a contender in the East, but they could have been a juggernaut. WARNING: Sixers fans may want to look away here.
In conclusion, the Sixers could have basically had…Giannis instead of Nerlens Noel AND…Devin Booker instead of Jahlil Okafor AND…DeAaron Fox OR Donovan Mitchell instead of Markelle Fultz AND…Mikal Bridges AND…Jimmy Butler.
Speechless? Yeah, me too.