Philadelphia 76ers: 5 reasons to love the Jimmy Butler trade

2. An elite defender

The Sixers essentially swapped an elite defender for an elite defender, shipping Covington to Minnesota and inserting Butler in his place. While Butler clearly brings more upside on offense, his two-way ability shouldn’t be overlooked.

Now in his eighth NBA season, Butler has made an All-Defensive team four times. He plays with rare effort and aggressiveness for a star, hounding players on the ball and using his anticipation to disrupt passing lanes and force turnovers.

While Covington’s off-ball defense was uniquely valuable, Butler should recoup as much (if not more) value on the defensive end for the Sixers. Both Simmons and Butler can switch between multiple positions, while Embiid’s rim protection anchors what projects to be a top-five defense all season.

When Brett Brown speaks about the Sixers’ culture, he almost always mentions their toughness. It’s the spirit of Philadelphia, grinding out wins and doing the dirty work. Butler embodies that spirit with his work ethic on the defensive end.

Philly fans will become enamored with Butler’s unbridled energy and passion. He’s going to make things happen in every facet.