The Philadelphia 76ers still have time to make Jimmy Butler work.
A bombshell report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne cast an unsettling light on the Philadelphia 76ers‘ current locker room dynamic. While there were no outright claims of infighting, the tenor of the article isn’t ideal.
According to the report, Jimmy Butler “aggressively challenged” Brett Brown about his role in the offense after the Sixers’ blowout loss to Portland last week. He wants more traditional isolation and pick-and-roll sets, rather than fitting into Brown’s free-flowing, movement-oriented system.
His point is fine; Brett hasn’t always maximized Butler’s presence, often waiting until the fourth quarter to unleash his playmaking abilities. It’s clear the fit between Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons remains a work in progress.
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Brown will need to make a concerted effort to improve Butler’s role while still maintaining his system. It’s also worth noting Embiid, the Sixers’ highest-usage player, has made comments about his touches (or lack thereof) in recent weeks as well.
It’s not reason for massive concern, but it’s fair to get worried. Butler has the freedom to leave next summer, rendering the Sixers’ first post-Process blockbuster move a failure. It would also mean giving away Robert Covington and Dario Saric, with the only benefit being Jerryd Bayless‘ departure.
There are valid questions regarding Butler’s longevity after such a burdensome career under Tom Thibodeau, but the Sixers need it to work. They need Butler to re-sign on a max contract, giving them an elite core to build around in the coming years.
With all that said, there’s still ample time for Brown to mend the situation and for Elton Brand to facilitate change. Winning tends to cure all wounds, and the Sixers would have more convincing wins with a legitimate bench. Brand needs to search the trade and free agency markets for viable stopgaps in the second unit.
As for Brown, he can work on Butler’s role in the offense, running more pick-and-rolls and allowing him to playmake in the halfcourt. There were brief signs of that in the Clippers game, prior to Butler’s ejection.
He can also tinker with the staggered minutes for Embiid, Simmons and Butler. The Sixers have done a solid job pairing Butler and Simmons on a regular basis — there’s obvious chemistry between the two — but utilizing Simmons as the screener in pick-and-rolls could open up more options. The same can be said when Ben shares the floor with Embiid, rather than stashing him in the dunker’s spot.
The Sixers’ starting lineup has a net rating of 15.3, good for fourth among five-man groups with at least 150 minutes played. Even with clear flaws, the Sixers maintain one of the NBA’s most lethal starting fives. It’s the bench, far more than the core, hurting their win percentage.
As the report noted, Brown didn’t think the exchange with Butler was anything excessive or disrespectful. In recent days, Brown has put a particular emphasis on developing chemistry, while Embiid continues to stress the Sixers’ strong culture.
Butler challenging the coach lacks a positive vibe, but for the time being, there’s still reason for optimism. The Sixers have the time and talent to mend the current situation, while Brand should — at some point — upgrade the bench before the playoffs start.
Trust the process, and have patience.