The Philadelphia 76ers have managed to reboot the roster again after trading Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat.
A large contingent of the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase has already taken to criticizing Jimmy Butler. He’s too old! He’d hold Ben Simmons back! He was a head case! In the end, just about everyone wanted him back. He decided to take a different path — one with much better weather.
The Sixers should have offered Butler a five-year, $190 million extension. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, that didn’t happen. The Sixers were, per his sources, looking to move on from someone they didn’t see as a long-term fit.
That information conflicts with Kyle Neubeck’s reporting at PhillyVoice. He heard the Sixers were willing to offer a five-year max and were spurned. That feels more believable considering Philadelphia’s season-long campaign to re-sign both Butler and Tobias Harris.
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It’s also worth considering the alternative. Would the Sixers have let Butler walk for nothing? If Butler’s primary suitor was L.A., it’s difficult to envision Elton Brand and ownership letting him leave without a competitive offer.
However the cake is sliced, the deal is now (in the process of being) completed. The Heat will send Josh Richardson to Philadelphia in exchange for Butler, who signs a four-year, $142 million max contract.
As far as assets in a sign-and-trade go, Richardson ranks among the more ideal outcomes. He’s a clean fit in Philadelphia — a long wing defender who can shoot, create off the dribble and run dribble hand-offs alongside the Sixers’ new big man duo.
At 6-foot-6, Richardson will be the smallest member of the Sixers’ starting five. Philadelphia is leaning into length and physicality — a unique approach given the modern emphasis on floor spacing and small-ball rotations in the NBA. The Sixers now have length at every position, as well as the ability to constantly switch screens without a glaring weakness.
On a loaded roster, Richardson projects well as the fifth wheel. The Sixers will rely on his halfcourt creation skills, using him in a variety of sets. He, along with Tobias Harris, will be tasked with filling Jimmy Butler’s void.
Richardson is also a plus shooter, hitting over 38 percent of his spot-up 3-pointers last season. Defenses will commit signifiant defensive attention to Philadelphia’s other stars, which should allow Richardson to boost his efficiency even further. He will get open looks on the perimeter.
In Miami, Richardson did a fair amount of work that will translate directly to Brett Brown’s offense in Philadelphia. He’s great in handoffs, whether it’s curling around for a pull-up 3 or getting into the paint and manipulating the defense.
As opposed to Butler, who was passive at the 3-point line, Richardson is a willing deep shooter. He attempted 6.3 per game last season, hitting shots on the move and standstill. That alone makes the fit next to Embiid and Simmons cleaner.
Richardson also has a silky in-between game, showing tremendous touch on floaters and pull-up jumpers. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has the ability to shoot over smaller defenders inside. The Sixers’ offense is predicated on exploiting mismatches and working into good shots. Richardson will contribute in a variety of ways.
This wasn’t the best possible outcome. Butler remains a superior player and would have made the Sixers immediate favorites in the East upon returning. But Butler has a right to move on, and no fan should commit character assassination based on where Butler wants to play basketball.
Now the Sixers have a young, cost-effective asset in Richardson — one who has legitimate star potential in Philadelphia’s new-look starting five. Richardson is also under contract for less than $11 million through the 2020-21 season. After that, it’s a player option and a chance to re-sign long term.
His contract alone, in addition to fitting the Sixers’ timeline at 25 years old, puts Richardson on a similar plane as Butler. He’s not the same player, but he’s a more natural fit, four years younger and still impactful on defense.
Richardson will have success here.