FanPost

So Much For "Trusting the Process"! So ... Is Jimmy Butler a "Fit" in Philly? *POLL*

I don't like it. For them, I mean. :)

Philly just swapped an elite, 27-year-old defender, and low-maintenance 3 pt. scoing SF in Robert Covington, plus a 24-year-old 3 pt shooting PF, in Dario Saric, for a great defending, high-scoring, but ball-dominant, 30-year-old (and modest 3 pt shooting) Jimmy Butler.

And Butler comes with baggage. I used to have tremendous respect for him, but that has completely evaporated, as he's been shipped out of Chicago and now Minnesota, while behaving very badly. He had no trouble embarrassing Thibodeau, Towns and Wiggins, on his way out, and taking a huge dump - exactly the size of his own king-sized ego -on the logo at Minnesota's center-court.

So I'm not rooting for the guy anymore. I'm pleased for Minny and their players, who have added useful comrades to an already young roster. They can breathe a sigh of relief, for certain. But Philly?

I understand JJ Reddick is the veteran leader in that locker-room. Perhaps Reddick and Butler can bring this team together, and find ways to make their young guys comfortable. I suppose they have a lot of significant talent, now, and can add some more, with the cap space I believe they have ...

But I believe the Celtics, Raptors and Bucks all have answers for Jimmy Butler, on a basketball court. And with all the outside shooting Philly has lost in the past 6 months (Bellinelli, Ilyasova, Covington and Saric), the 76ers may have real problems figuring out how to play together.

Most commentators are heralding this as a big "win" for Elton Brand, as the new GM ... but I'm not sold. Between trading away a first-round pick to move up two spots to draft Fultz, and shipping out two more young guys here, the process has come to an end. And I'm pretty sure it's with, at the least, big "fit" and chemistry gambles.

I don't see a championship team here, in Philly's immediate future. And I think Philly has dimmed their longer term future for a guy who is less about the game, and his team, and more about his ego - and the huge bags of money Philly will have to fork over, of course. But that's the free market for you ... :)

But what do you think? Do you think the commentators, who are grading this trade as an "A" for Philly and a "C" for Minny, right?

I'd reverse those grades (roughly - maybe a B+for Minny, under the exigent circumstances. Oh - and fire Thibodeau as soon as is reasonably possible. Or sooner, maybe ...