Philadelphia 76ers roundtable: Thoughts on the Jimmy Butler trade

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The Philadelphia 76ers have added a third star in Jimmy Butler. Was it the right move?

Elton Brand‘s first trade as Philadelphia 76ers GM was a big one, shipping away Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick in exchange for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton.

With two elite-level players in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the Sixers’ title window is just beginning to open. Adding Butler to the mix expedites the process, giving Brett Brown a legitimate ‘big three’ to work with.

There have been mixed reactions to the trade. Butler’s prior locker room issues are well-documented. The Sixers have one of the best cultures in the NBA, so the potential disconnect could turn worrisome.

On the other hand, Butler puts the Sixers (on paper) in the same tier as Boston, Toronto and Milwaukee. Both Brand and Brown have stated the Sixers’ goal of winning an NBA championship on multiple occasions. Butler helps the cause.

Now that the season’s first blockbuster trade is complete, our writers got together to offer thoughts on the deal and what it means moving forward.