The Sixers made several changes this offseason, but the team looks like just as much of a threat to steal the Eastern Conference crown as they did last season before Kawhi Leonard‘s knockout shot. While center Joel Embiid is focused on getting the team to NBA Finals for the first time since 2001, he admits that having Jimmy Butler around would make for a better journey.
“It was a big loss because me and him, we got to the point where we were really close – we’re still close,” Embiid said of losing Butler (via ESPN’s The Jump; h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports).
“We talk a lot, that’s my guy, that’s my brother forever. I wish he was still on the team, because I feel like the relationship that I built with him could have gone a long way. When it was the fourth quarter, we knew the ball would either be in me or Jimmy’s hands. I knew I could count on him. This year it kind of changes around. Now other guys have to step up and I have to do more.”
Butler landed in Miami via sign-and-trade this offseason while the 76ers netted Josh Richardson. Philadelphia also brought in Al Horford to give the team arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA. GM Elton Brand‘s squad is expected to be one of the best defensive teams in the league. However, Embiid acknowledges that they haven’t accomplished anything yet.
“I think we should be up there. Obviously, we still have to prove ourselves,” Embiid said of the team’s title chances. “We lost a big piece in Jimmy, he did a lot of great things for us, but we should be up there. On paper, we got a really good team so now it’s on us to go out there and actually prove it.”
I like Embiid take on it. He was upfront and wished Butler was still in philly. Honestly however u could tell from day 1 Butler wasn’t happy with his role in philly. He want to be the guy(that wasn’t happening in philly).
I could have sworn tat Jimmy and Joel did not mesh well together on the court and now this
So strange.
I believe it. In the playoffs Embiid favored Butler over Harris or Simmons to pass to. IDK if he “meshed” the best with Butler… I can’t picture any of them as meshing types but that may be me forgetting stuff in the offseason.
Looking forward to the NBA season… too many rules & yellow flags flying around in the NFL!
I’m really glad Jimmy has got his own team now and in Miami too, it seems to just really suit him. It makes me think tho who now takes the clutch 4th quarter shots for Philly. Jimmy was a clutch shooter and could hit from heaps of places. Now we have Simmons who doesn’t like/can’t shoot 3s at all, Richardson can shoot it alright but he’s probably a 4th option scorer now, Harris is probably our best shooter but he doesn’t seem much a leader and he’s not proven much, Horford isnt an option and Joel is a beast in the paint and can extend his range but if we need a 3 to win he’s probably not our guy
For that reason I’d look to maybe trade a couple of our young guys for a slightly improved vet, such as Zhaire Smith and Jonah Bolden for Jae Crowder and bring in Jamal Crawford. Crawford tho he is old and stuff could help teach the young guys and be a go to scorer at times. And Crowder would be a great 6th man, can play 3/4 and score the 3 and defend well. He would be the ultimate insurance policy if we were to have an injury
Ignoring the fact that from a roster construction standpoint it makes zero sense to trade a wing for a front court player, why on earth would you trade anything of value for Jae crowder?
Cause Jae Crowder is a solid player. Off the bench he will give you 12/5/2, play solid defence, can space the floor and he can play 3 or 4.
Zhaire Smith didn’t really get any minutes last year and then this year we drafted 2 more SGs (Thybulle and Shayok) to go with Milton who we also got last year, we don’t need 4 young back up SGs. Not to mention Ennis can play SG also. Jonah Bolden is nice but he’s behind Mike Scott and Kyle OQuinn. Crowder would be the ultimate 6th man for this team.
1. Simmons. Neto. Burke
2. Richardson. Thybulle. Milton
3. Harris. Crowder. Ennis
4. Horford. Scott.
5. Embid. OQuinn.
I’m very familiar with the roster. Still makes no sense to trade smith for a slightly above average bench player. Scott and Ennis are more than capable of providing similar numbers to crowder. Smith didn’t play much last year because he was hurt. He can also play the 3.
Joel is competitive, Jimmy is competitive. Both dudes that hate their opponents when playing the game. But paying Jimmy for 4 or 5 yrs of max was unwise. His style won’t age well. Horford’s may not be any better, but he can at least spell Joel at the end of his deal.
Butler is a very overrated player. Just a good stats, bad team player. Miami will be regretting signing him when they win 42 games and lose in the first round.