It’s only been four months since the Jimmy Butler trade, and here we are again. This time, however, it’s to no fault of Jimmy Butler. In fact, there should be nothing but praise for the way Butler’s conducted himself thus far. Once Philadelphia’s top priority in free agency this offseason, recent events must force us to reconsider his future with the team.
Let’s face it: Jimmy Butler isn’t an ideal fit for the Sixers’ playstyle. He’s not a horrible fit by any means but isn’t anywhere close to perfect. He’s ball-dominant, an average shooter, and prefers to create his own shot, all sub-optimal traits for a third option. And yes, Butler should be the third option on this team. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are just that talented.
This situation stems from the Tobias Harris trade that occurred a month ago. Before that, this wouldn’t have been a debate. Butler was the sole creator from the perimeter and most reliable crunch-time closer. Now, however, Harris’ presence makes Butler no longer a necessity on the wing. He’s a better shooter, more efficient scorer, and not as needy without the ball. He has his flaws, but they’re not fatal by any stretch.
Tobias Harris simply complements the rest of the team better. He’s one of the best 3PT shooters in the NBA, off-the-dribble and catch-and-shoot. Although Harris did most of his work off the bounce in his time with the Clippers, he’s always been efficient. Just look at his stats: 49.8% from the field and 42.0% from three on 4.7 attempts per game. He hasn’t missed a beat in Philadelphia, averaging 19.8 PPG on similar efficiency. He’s now taking 5.7 threes per game, the highest number of his career, making 37.6% of them. Harris has embraced an off-ball role with the Sixers, and it’s been worked well.
Harris isn’t just some glorified stretch 4, however. He’s a top shot-creator too, and a reliable clutch option. He shoots 58.6 FG% in crunch time, and a staggering 57.1 3P%. Harris isn’t going to freeze up when the game gets tight. He’s going to take initiative and score. This is what the Sixers brought Jimmy Butler to the roster for, and they no longer need him to do so.
Harris is just what the team needs, next to a future superstar duo with shooting difficulties. Joel Embiid hasn’t been close to the league average from three since his rookie season and is shooting below 30% this season. We already know the deal with Ben Simmons’ jump-shot, leaving Philadelphia with an urgent need for shooters.
JJ Redick fills that need very nicely, along with Tobias Harris. Other roster incumbents like Mike Scott and James Ennis III are capable shooters, but not on significant volume. Jimmy Butler isn’t a bad shooter by any stretch, but he’s not exactly what Philadelphia is looking for.
In a few short years, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid will be in the prime of their career. When this happens, can you imagine Butler just standing in the corner for half of the shot clock? Or Butler sprinting around screens possession after possession only to not even get a shot off? It’s just something that doesn’t fit the Jimmy Butler we know, and a role that Butler’s simply too good for.
Yes, he provides defense and sometimes questionable leadership, but are those traits the Sixers need that badly? It’s not difficult to find defenders and hustle players on the market, and Philadelphia already has a strong leader in Embiid. Butler also provided playmaking and shot-creation, but those are skills Simmons and Harris both already have. Jimmy Butler’s skill-set just isn’t something that meshes very well with the current core.
He’s a career 34.0% shooter from three and is only shooting 33.3% with the Sixers. While he’s not a disaster, the Sixers aren’t going to be able to utilize his talents to their fullest. Now, that’s not a problem as long as Butler is okay with it, but not at the monetary price Butler’s going to demand. On his current contract, it’s a deal well worth it, but as we all know, Jimmy Butler is a free agent this offseason.
This is going to be Butler’s last chance to get paid, and he turns 30 next season. He deserves a max contract and is probably going to get one somewhere. The problem with Philadelphia is that it might not be worth signing him to that type of deal. The back end of the four or five-year contract could really bite the Sixers at the end, right in the middle of their young stars’ prime. Harris, meanwhile, is only 27 and can be depended on throughout his entire contract.
Ideally, the Sixers want Harris back, as well as Redick. Both have been excellent for Philadelphia and should be top priorities. Harris shouldn’t be too hard to sell on, and Philadelphia can offer good money and a promising future. Redick has had two career years with the Sixers, and the fit is just too good for the two sides to part ways. Those two won’t come cheap, however, especially not Harris. Although Butler is the superior player right now, that may not be true in two or three years. The risk is a lot smaller with Harris, and the payout with Butler isn’t much higher.
There’s a lot of free agents on the market that make more sense for Philadelphia. Bojan Bogdanovic, Terrence Ross, Nikola Mirotic, Trevor Ariza, Rodney McGruder, DeMarre Carroll, and Reggie Bullock are just a few of the names that Philadelphia should hone in on. All of these guys would complement Simmons and Embiid a lot better, by virtue of their shooting. Signing Butler would take all but the cheapest guys off their list, however, and leave Philadelphia scouring the bottom of the bucket for depth. Which is all to say this: Jimmy Butler is worth a max contract, but isn’t worth one to the 76ers.
To sum it all up, Jimmy Butler is too good of a player for the role Philadelphia needs him to play. The Sixers need shooting first and foremost, which has never been one of Butler’s strengths. When Butler first came to the Sixers, their primary concern was their lack of a true perimeter scoring threat. That’s a position Tobias Harris now easily fills, at a cheaper price and lower risk. Although Butler provided defense and playmaking, Philadelphia has no great want for either right now. Some may point to Butler’s leadership skills, but it’s clear Embiid is growing into that emotional figurehead more and more every day.
At the time when the Sixers traded for Butler, it was an excellent move. However, part of being a great front office is not always doubling down on a decision. Harris is a better fit for Philadelphia both in the present and long-term.
At the end of the day, paying Butler big money to be a third-option while having a player like Tobias Harris is repetitive. Harris is the safer and cheaper option, and it leaves money for more depth. The Jimmy Butler trade wasn’t a bad move at the time, and the Sixers shouldn’t regret making it. However, a better opportunity has presented itself with Tobias Harris, and the Sixers shouldn’t let it go by.
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