All of a sudden, the Philadelphia 76ers are NBA title contenders.
Philly hasn’t gotten off to the hottest start. Despite many picking the Sixers to win the East, they’re only 8-5. But the Sixers have reportedly added Jimmy Butler, one of the NBA’s best small forwards.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Philly is sending Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick to Minnesota for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton. The trade will reportedly become official Monday.
Butler requested a trade from Minnesota this summer as rumors indicated there was a power struggle between Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Timberwolves czar Tom Thibodeau.
The team’s dysfunction was clear early this season. Minnesota, which earned the West’s No. 8 seed last season, has started only 4-9.
Given that he started and fueled the drama, and that he was also known to occasionally cause problems while he was in Chicago, Butler has developed a reputation as a locker-room cancer.
How Butler Will Fit In
This trade begs the question: How will he fit in with the 76ers?
The Sixers are built around Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Embiid has gone up a level this season, and he’s firmly in the MVP conversation. Simmons, last year’s Rookie of the Year, still can’t shoot; he hasn’t attempted a single three-pointer in 2018-19. But he’s a tremendous playmaker. His numbers this season are similar to his numbers last season.
Philly needs floor-spacing, and Butler will provide that. He’s hitting a career-best 37.8 percent from outside this season. His offensive prowess has developed throughout his career, and at this point, he’s a guaranteed 20 points-per-night guy. Further, he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, and Philly has a below-average defense (No. 20 in points against).
On paper, Butler makes Philly a much better team. He’s an All-Star, a veteran and one of the most talented wings in the NBA.
But games aren’t won on paper. How will he affect the locker room? Will his intensity drive the more laidback Simmons and Embiid crazy? Have they inherited the same problem Towns and Andrew Wiggins dealt with? We’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to be fun to watch.
Philly made this move to contend with the beasts of the East: Boston, Toronto, Milwaukee and Indiana. Butler will be a restricted free agent next summer. He may bolt for Los Angeles or Miami, depending on how the season plays out.
Butler Impacts Odds
In response to the news, BetDSI Sportsbook has adjusted its NBA Championship futures odds.
Saturday morning, the 76ers had 22-1 odds (+2200) to win the NBA title. After the Butler news broke, oddsmakers moved the Sixers’ odds to 15-1 (+1500).
Philly now has the fifth-best title odds, right behind James Harden, Chris Paul and the Rockets. Philly remains behind Boston and Toronto to win the Finals as well as the Eastern Conference.
As you’d expect, the Timberwolves became much more of a longshot after dealing Butler. Their odds changed from +10000 to +15000, which is the same price as the Sacramento Kings.
Below are the full odds to win the 2018-19 NBA Finals.
2018-19 NBA Championship Odds (via BetDSI Sportsbook)
Golden State Warriors -175
Boston Celtics +700
Toronto Raptors +900
Houston Rockets +1000
Philadelphia 76ers +1500
Milwaukee Bucks +1600
Los Angeles Lakers +2500
Denver Nuggets +2900
Oklahoma City Thunder +3000
Utah Jazz +4000
New Orleans Pelicans +4500
San Antonio Spurs +5000
Portland Trail Blazers +6000
Indiana Pacers +7000
Detroit Pistons +8000
Charlotte Hornets +8000
Miami Heat +9000
Los Angeles Clippers +10000
Washington Wizards +12500
Minnesota Timberwolves +15000
Sacramento Kings +15000
Orlando Magic +20000
Memphis Grizzlies +20000
Dallas Mavericks +25000
New York Knicks +30000
Chicago Bulls +30000
Brooklyn Nets +50000
Atlanta Hawks +50000
Phoenix Suns +50000
Cleveland Cavaliers +100000