Grade the Trade: 76ers shake up the NBA in proposed 4-team blockbuster deal

Why the 76ers should not trade for Jimmy Butler

Really, the biggest impediment with acquiring Jimmy Butler is his availability, or the relative lack thereof. He missed the entire postseason this time around, and in his five-year tenure in Miami, he’s missed a total of 100 regular season games. Heck, even Pat Riley admitted that his availability and overall health would be defining factors regarding his impending extension with the franchise.

For a Philadelphia team already expected to bridge the gap between easing the load on its oft-injured best player in Joel Embiid and remaining competitive enough for a realistic shot at the championship championship, putting all the chips on another non-iron man could be deemed as a big gamble. After all, availability is still the best skill, especially for a league with an increasing parity.

In addition, trading for Butler would concurrently mean that the 76ers would be amenable to giving him the very lucrative extension he and his camp so desire, the value of which could handcuff the team into having a top-heavy payroll and paralyze them from making marginal roster upgrades.

Grade: A

Looking at the big picture, the 76ers are incentivized to go all-in and disregard timeline this time around. Embiid isn’t getting any younger, and the best way to augment the team’s championship case is to surround him and Maxey with a proven All-Star and a proven playoff performer. For the asking price in the proposed deal, this trade is a no-brainer for the 76ers.