Jimmy Butler to the Sixers?
The news has been out for a while that Jimmy Butler is unhappy in Minnesota with Wiggins and KAT. He has declined a contract extension and will be heading into free agency after this season. Which means, of course, that up until the trade deadline we will be hearing tons of trade rumors for one of NBA’s top talents.
Should the Sixers try to trade for Butler before the trade deadline?
Adding Jimmy Bulter along with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons would make the Sixers a top contender to win the East. Philly would be adding a perimeter defender and a 3 point threat, two areas that needed some work last season. Butler, when healthy is one of the league’s top defenders and a top player in the NBA.
Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
All of Butler up side comes with a downside. Butler has had issues with injuries in the past. The Sixers have had a very long and tired history dealing with injured players. The backlash that would come if the Sixers organization dealt for Butler and he was hit with the injury bug again is something I don’t think they are ready for.
Lastly, What would it take for Philly to get Jimmy Butler from the Timberwolves. Although his stock is down since he is an expiring contract who has made it clear he is not resigning, he won’t come cheap. To start the Sixers would likely need to trade the 2021 Miami Heat pick they just acquired at the draft. That alone of course wouldn’t get the deal done. They would also, likely, need to offer Robert Covington and other pieces to make the deal work financially.
My Conclusion
Would I trade away Covington and the Heat 2021 pick away from Jimmy Butler? Absolutely. Would the Timberwolves? I am not sure. It would depend what will be offered at the time of the deal and what teams are willing to give up for a player that might not resign at the end of the year. But if the price for the Sixers was Covington, Bayless, and the 2021 pick and there is the risk that Butler won’t stay in Philly I think you still have to take the chance and do the deal.
