Australian 76ers fans awoke Sunday morning to discover NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler had been able to achieved his wish of departing Minnesota and made his way to the city of brotherly love.
Trades with both Houston and Miami had been mooted but a deal was finally reached with the Philadelphia 76ers which saw Butler and young big man Justin Patton headed east in return for Timberwolves starters Robert Covington and Dario Saric, veteran Jerryd Bayless, and a future second round pick.
But whilst NBA analysts across the globe dissect what the trade will mean for the future of both teams, Australian fans should be exploring the ramifications the trade has for a couple of our country’s young stars.
Although not known for his ball handling, Butler is more than capable of facilitating or creating his own shot off the dribble, something neither Saric or Covington provided the 76ers offence.
It’s difficult to see how the experiment of Markelle Fultz as a starter should continue given he, Simmons, Butler and Joel Embiid all need their fair share of touches on offence. This is compounded by the fact that of that quartet, Butler is really the only capable outside shooter at this point in time.
How the inclusion of Butler will impact Simmons’ play will be interesting. No doubt having both on the floor will create a much different dynamic to the one which included Saric and Covington but how Butler interacts with Simmons and fellow star Embiid off the court could be equally as important as Butler leaves Minnesota having belittled and abused teammates both publicly and privately.
How Butler gels with Simmons and Embiid in the locker room will be closely watched by fans. Discovering who is the ‘Alpha Dog’ of the three and the ‘go to guy’ at crucial moments late in games is a narrative many are keen to follow.
Butler is well known for his work ethic and will to win, something that has seen him clash with teammates in both Chicago and Minnesota. There are uncanny similarities with the formation of the 76ers and Timberwolves. Butler ultimately didn’t work with talented young players in Wiggins and Towns, will it be any different with Simmons and Embiid?
For talented Aussie forward Jonah Bolden, this trade also provides great opportunity and perhaps gives us a sense of how the 76ers view his future potential.
The loss of Saric opens up a gaping hole in the power forward spot on Philadelphia’s roster. The make-up of their starting line-up post this trade remains unclear with a number of options available.
Does veteran Wilson Chandler start at the four once he becomes healthy? Perhaps its Amir Johnson or Mike Muscala starting next to Embiid? Does Simmons potentially play there as a point forward much like Lebron James often does, allowing the 76ers to go with a smaller line-up?
Regardless of what the preference is, it’s likely to be a short term solution that 76ers management will have to revisit in the future.
Do they see Bolden as a starting power forward for them in the future? Even if they don’t at this point in time, Bolden now has the opportunity to prove himself as an NBA player. With limited playing time early this season, expect Bolden to now find regular minutes given the roster now has a lack of front-court depth.
This trade is certainly a positive for Bolden whilst for Simmons, time will tell what kind of impact, good or bad, Butler has on his game. Although it’s something he’ll have to develop regardless of Butler, an effective jump shot is even more necessary for Simmons now that his ball handling will likely be reduced.
It’s also important to note that Butler may not even be a part of Philadelphia’s long term plans. Butler will become a free agent at the end of this season, meaning that even if he brings something negative or positive this season, it may only last until the end of this season.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
