3. Title contention
The Eastern Conference no longer harbors the one-man juggernaut known as LeBron James. That leaves the door open for teams like Boston, Toronto, Milwaukee and — you guessed it — Philadelphia. Adding Jimmy Butler significantly boosts the Sixers’ title odds.
While the Celtics and Raptors are still prohibitive favorites, Butler and Embiid are both elite talents. Normally, well-coached teams with multiple high-level stars are difficult to beat. The Sixers might have the most talented trio outside Golden State.
Butler also fixes the Sixers’ most pressing issues on offense, something I’ll touch on later. He’s a direct counter to the measures Boston took to eliminate Philadelphia last postseason. Adding a third star gives the Sixers enough firepower to get over the hump.
Last season, Butler received fringe MVP hype prior to injuring his knee. Through 15 games this season, Embiid might be an (or the) MVP favorite, posting six more 30+ point, 10+ rebound games than the next highest player. He has been an absolute force.
As the team progresses and more moves are made — ideally to add depth — the Sixers will have the necessary means to challenge the conference elites (and, potentially, even the Golden State Warriors).