Perhaps no NBA player’s reputation has transformed more than Jimmy Butler’s this season.
Back in September, Butler demanded a trade out of Minnesota. (It’s hard to believe that Butler was a Timberwolf this season.) Head coach and president Tom Thibodeau initially refused to appease the disgruntled star’s demands, however. The drama nearly bled into the season, as Butler failed to report to the Timberwolves with only a week before the first tip.
When Butler finally did report, he had an agenda. He became an agent of chaos, intensely challenging Thibodeau, GM Scott Layden and teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. He screamed at Layden “You fucking need me. You can’t win without me“.
The iconic memory of the practice was an inter-squad scrimmage that has reached Dream Team in Monte Carlo legend status. Butler reportedly teamed up with a bunch of end of the bench scrubs and not only beat the starters, but destroyed them. Adding to the lore, Butler said he only took one shot during the entire game on The JJ Redick Podcast. Bleacher Report’s Game of Zones brilliantly depicted the theatrics of the scene.
On November 10th, his trade demand was finally executed. The Philadelphia 76ers acquired the two-way star in exchange for Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless and a future second-round pick. The Sixers finally found their third star to the Joel Embiid-Ben Simmons duo, seemingly completing the process.
The fit between Butler and Towns proved to be like trying to fit a basketball into a golf-ball sized hole. It was a disaster on nearly every level. (Although, they did make the playoffs in 2017-18.) Team chemistry was nonexistent for the ten games Butler played in Minnesota. The media blamed Butler for all of the Timberwolves’ drama.
When the Sixers acquired Butler, it raised many questions. How would Butler fit with Embiid and Simmons? Would he destroy team chemistry the way he did in Minnesota? How would the three, ball-dominant players gel?
So far, Butler, Embiid and Simmons (and later, Tobias Harris) have meshed rather well. While there were some early issues with shot distribution, those dissipated rather quickly and have become non-existent of late. The Sixers compiled a 35-20 record in games Butler started during the regular season. He averaged an impressive 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game for Philadelphia.
The biggest difference between Butler’s Minnesota and Philadelphia tenures has become evident this playoffs: where Towns withered in the presence of Butler’s aggressive nature, Embiid has thrived. Butler and Embiid are alpha dogs, competitive as hell and habitual trash talkers. Towns has proven to be, well, none of those. However, teammates so similar in personality can become rivals, erasing any chance of on-court chemistry. That was the downfall of Shaq and Kobe on the Lakers. Instead, Butler and Embiid push each other and make each other better.
The above clip reveals so much about Butler and Embiid’s relationship. Butler encourages Embiid to keep shooting open threes, which naturally boosts his confidence. The more telling quote is Butler telling Embiid to “take us home” (meaning, close this win out for us). Butler never would have ceded closing duties to anyone in Minnesota, especially not Towns.
Butler trusts Embiid and that in turn empowers Embiid, allowing him to become the best version of himself as a basketball player. We never saw LeBron reach his peak until he played with Dwyane Wade. Kevin Durant has reached new heights playing alongside Stephen Curry. Neither Embiid nor Butler is quite on that level yet, but Embiid could be. Butler just might be the guy who helps him get there.
In Philadelphia, Butler is encouraged to be exactly what he’s always wanted: himself. And Jimmy being Jimmy is exactly what Philadelphia needs, too.
The underlying effect of Butler’s repaired reputation is his value in free agency this summer. Butler will be thirty years old when next season begins with nearly 20,000 minutes under his belt. He’s clearly never been on the same level as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving, who are also free agents this summer. His reputation as a star who thinks he’s a superstar has led to him being dubbed the impending free agent no one wants, but the one some dumb team will overpay for in desperation. He’s become the butt of Lakers “dream vs reality” joke.
The Sixers’ addition of Harris was seen as Philadelphia’s insurance in case Butler leaves in free agency, despite GM Elton Brand’s desire to resign both players. For stretches this season, it even seemed like Philadelphia might even want Butler to leave, or at least that’s what I’d been hearing from the media.
Through eight playoff games, that’s all changed. This postseason has revealed that Butler is infinitely more important to Philadelphia than anyone ever thought. It’s now hard to conceive the Sixers winning a championship in the near future without Butler.
Embiid will always be the centerpiece of the team, but every Batman needs a Robin. Butler has proved to be a better sidekick for Embiid than Simmons thus far – but that’s where we were all wrong.
Everyone assumed Butler needed to the third wheel, but instead Simmons has filled that role. This postseason – especially against Toronto – Simmons has accepted a reduced role offensively and taken on the challenge of defending the opposing team’s top guard. It cannot be understated how instrumental Simmons’ willingness to allow Butler to become more of a focal piece has been to Philadelphia’s early success this postseason. If the Sixers want to win a title with Embiid, Butler and Simmons, that has to be the pecking order.
Over the course of the season, Butler’s value and reputations has come full circle. He arrived in Philadelphia labeled as a selfish team killer. He believed himself to be max-contract caliber, but in reality might only be able to command a two-year deal for well below the max.
During this season, Butler has evolved into a true team leader who pushes the best out of his teammates (at least the ones that can handle his brash personality). He’s a perfect running mate for Embiid. Suddenly, Butler finds himself as an indispensable piece in Philadelphia; consequently, he exponentially increased his ability to demand a max contract this summer.
Perhaps this playoff run is fools gold setting up a collapse to the Raptors or a contract-year mirage from Butler. It could be the awakening of Butler as a player and a leader, too. Honestly, it doesn’t even matter which is the truth. All it takes is one team to offer Butler the contract he thinks he deserves, and this playoff run has ensured that there will be at least one team who will.
[…] player on a Finals team. Don’t get me wrong — I love Jimmy Butler. Last year, I wrote about his winning attitude proved to be vital for the Sixers’ playoff success. Let’s not forget that if a certain shot […]
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