Philadelphia 76ers: Sign Jimmy Butler, forget about “chemistry”
By Matt Burnham
The Philadelphia 76ers have a big decision to make by the time free agency begins. Jimmy Butler is going to demand a hefty contract.
The most cliche term used in all of sports is “chemistry” as it pertains to how personnel on a team meshes together.
Seriously, every time a player joins a new team, the first question people want to ask is “Can they find chemistry? How will they work together? Is this a good fit?”
Nonsense. Absolute nonsense.
More from Sixers News
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden
This does not mean that it is ideal for players to brawl in the locker rooms before and after games, but the idea that players need to be best friends with each other is a concept that has never existed with any championship team in any sport.
It is nothing more than a fantasy.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Jimmy Butler has been under a microscope ever since he arrived in the city. Whenever he fails to spit shine the shoes of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and head coach Brett Brown, sports media has a field day.
That is not to say he has not brought some of it upon himself. When Butler publicly called out the manhood of the entire Minnesota Timberwolves roster and requested an interview from Rachel Nichols, he asked for some of this attention.
Butler is on schedule to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Perhaps the factors to which most people want to pay attention are his attitude and how he gets along with his teammates.
The factor that people should be paying attention to is the 20-10 record since Butler arrived. They should be paying attention to the clutch shots, the stingy defense, the killer mentality he brings to this team.
But all people want to talk about is the “chemistry” as if every championship team has not had chemistry issues.
Michael Jordan punched Steve Kerr in the face during a Bulls practice many moons ago. The Bulls were still a dynasty.
Kobe Bryant thought Shaquille O’Neal was lazy and out of shape and the drama was heavily publicized back in the early 2000s. The Lakers continued to run the Western Conference.
Even today, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant almost burnt the bridge and yet the Warriors are still overwhelming favorites to win their third consecutive title.
No, the Philadelphia 76ers have not won any championships in this era but there is one thing that will forever supersede “chemistry” 100 percent of the time.
Winning.
It’s the medicine that cures any drama in a locker room.
Must Read. Mailbag - Butler, Fultz and the future. light
If the Philadelphia 76ers are really invested in this Embiid-Butler-Simmons trio, the smart idea is to let this season play out and allow the team to show their capabilities before pondering Butler’s upcoming free agency.
The media will not let it go, but the Sixers cannot focus on Butler’s off-the-court words or actions right now.
An ESPN article from Jan. 5 stated that Butler “aggressively challenged Brett Brown” on his offensive role.
Yesterday, FS1 NBA analyst Chris Broussard came on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and to paraphrase, he said that he had been getting reports of Butler driving people crazy within the organization.
If he were a journeyman and the 11th best player on your team then you move on but he is not. He is an elite two-way player and if they are unwilling to pay him then somebody else will.
If the 76ers fail to achieve their goals this season it will not be a result of Butler tearing the “chemistry” apart, it will be because they are missing a shooter to compete with the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, or the Boston Celtics.
The other free agents seem to have Western Conference dreams. Rumors have it that Kawhi Leonard wants to play in Los Angeles and Kevin Durant does not want to leave California.
A top-15 player is certainly not “settling” but to think you will do better than Jimmy Butler would be to take an enormous gamble on the franchise; perhaps one not worth taking.
The 76ers need to suck it up and sign Jimmy Butler and continue this trio as two of them have yet to hit their peaks.
Right now they sit at fourth place in the Eastern Conference, just a few games out of first.
Next. 3 bench pieces to target on the trade market. dark
All they need to do is win games and any “chemistry” issues will be resolved.