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Sixers rumors: Brett Brown at fault for Jimmy Butler’s departure

Christopher Kline|

Brett Brown | Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Sixers feel imminently close to firing Brett Brown. Let the blame game begin.

It’s no secret that Brett Brown’s job security has seen better days. As the Sixers gear up for a potential first-round sweep on Sunday afternoon, the pre-“he’s been fired” media leaks have already begun. Brown’s days feel truly numbered.

In a recent report from Keith Pompey, “multiple sources” claimed Brown had a hand in Jimmy Butler‘s departure last summer, citing his desire to “not deal with” Butler and his antics. This does not come as a surprise, but the narrative it strives to create is — frankly — one of hilarious incompetence.

Pompey then went on to drop this gem.

"“Part of the problem with the Sixers is a heavy reliance on analytics instead of a feel for the game. They also try to fit players into a certain scheme instead of taking advantage of individual skill sets. That has led to veteran free-agent and/or trade acquisitions of Sergio Rodriguez, Jerryd Bayless, Wilson Chandler, Amir Johnson, Trevor Booker, Butler (in the regular season), and now Horford and Tobias Harris failing to live up to expectations.”"

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This report is a blatant attempt by the front office to paint Brown as the scapegoat. It is also a scathing indictment of the front office, who clearly do not look as innocent as they believe they are (or at least want to appear).

Brown certainly deserves blame. The part about Philadelphia’s inability to take advantage of individual skill sets is true, and Brown’s rigid schemes — and general lack of adaptability — have long been valid critiques.

On the other hand, the analytics barb is a weird one. And it doesn’t make much sense. Analytics tend to prioritize shots at the rim and shots from behind the 3-point line. The Sixers have hesitant shooters, a distinct lack of halfcourt playmakers, and a big who posts up more than anyone else in the league. This was not a team constructed on “analytics,” and blaming the analytics department is a vain attempt to draw criticism away from… who knows, really?

In the end, blame is universal in this situation. The owners, the front office, the coaching staff, the players — all of them deserve some level of blame, and Philadelphia should make every effort possible to clean house and start fresh this offseason. Brown should be fired, but so should Brand, Alex Rucker, and the rest of the “collaborative” front office.

But, back to the Brown and Butler conundrum. The spin here is simple: Brown didn’t want to deal with Butler, so he advocated for the 30-year-old’s departure. He therefore is to blame, in part, for the Sixers’ wonky roster construction and complete lack of halfcourt creation.

Sure.

Sure, sure, sure.

Brown’s working relationship with Butler was not ideal. That is well known fact. We also know that Butler left in part because Philadelphia “wanted to control him,” which lines up with this leak. Brown didn’t think he could control Butler, and Butler was consequently pushed out the door.

What this report fails to do, however, is paint the front office in a positive light. This does not effectively pin the blame on Brown, nor does it effectively purge the front office of criticism. In fact, if the front office made the decision to side with Brown over Butler, they deserve a one-way ticket out the door.

I generally consider Brown a good coach. He went blow-for-blow with Nick Nurse in the 2019 playoffs, and Philadelphia has made consistently positive strides under his guidance — until this season, of course. But despite all the good Brown has done, he is clearly not an elite coach. And you do not choose a coach over a top-15 player. That is never the correct decision.

If Brown didn’t want to deal with Butler, tough luck. You make him deal with it. If it came down to Brown or Butler — if Butler wasn’t going to come back unless Brown was fired — then you fire Brown, bite the bullet, and bring back your third top-25 player.

Jimmy Butler is a ceiling-raiser — the kind of player who transforms this Philadelphia roster into a genuine contender. Last season, the Sixers were a bounce away from beating Toronto largely because of Butler. Brett Brown should not have stood in the way of a max contract extension. That’s poor management, and a baffling commitment to a coach you are willing to disparage (and most likely fire) just one year later.

These leaks represent a thinly veiled attempt to bury Brown and frame the front office as innocent bystanders. Do not let them fool you. The front office had an even greater hand in the Sixers’ disastrous campaign than Brown. If you fire Brown, you must also fire Elton Brand and the other key decision-makers up top. It’s time to clean house.