AJ Iezzi
When national NBA writers continued linking the Sixers to the Jimmy Butler saga, I remained skeptical. I was also publicly against trading for Butler, especially after packages from Miami and Houston were turned down.
When the news of the trade broke I was immediately torn, but the more I look at it, this trade feels very similar to the Paul George swap. Value was given, and value was received.
You know when you go to your favorite court to play pickup and that guy shows up? Jimmy Butler is that guy. He’s nasty. He’s cerebral. And above all, he’s really good. Butler’s personality and style will fit in right at home with the Philadelphia fans.
The Sixers now have three elite two-way players. Jimmy Butler makes their defense better and is a gusty shot maker on offense. The addition of the multi-time all-star solidifies their contention in the Eastern Conference. His antics are well documented, but the Sixers have a strong bond and a legitimate culture. I can’t imagine he winds up being an organization-wide pain in the neck once again. He knows he’s in an advantageous situation. Jimmy Butler is too smart to risk the position he is in.
Minnesota gained two terrific players in Robert Covington and Dario Saric. I have little doubt they’ll succeed, although I feel bad they’ll have to deal with Tom Thibodeau.
We cannot forget what Dario Saric and Robert Covington did for this organization. Sam Hinkie gifted us two players that worked relentlessly and embodied everything Philadelphia appreciates in their athletes.
Saric played with a non-stop motor, and a selflessness that perpetuated throughout the team. Robert Covington might be the biggest Process success story. He was undrafted, and grinded his way to being an NBA contributor, and he kept climbing. Covington’s All-Defense recognition was a testament to his dedication to himself and the Sixers as a whole. Any Sixers fan that didn’t fully appreciate him wasn’t paying attention.
I was at the win over Minnesota when Saric lobbed the game winning pass to Cov just before time expired. It’s one of my favorite Sixers memories, and I’ll remember both of them very fondly. Their time as Sixers may be over, but their Process contributions gave us hope for the future that we will remember forever.