After years of being the doormat of the league. Some might say years of tanking. The 76ers were gathering young players and trying to put together a young team that could grow and gel together. The process took many years to finally put together a young nucleus. In the NBA it’s the old way of doing things. It’s all about assembling the big three, clearing enough cap space to get one star and his BF and perhaps you have a guy already established. The 76ers plan was working. The original plan  as the team made it to the playoffs and got deep into the playoffs. It was a team that continued to grow year by year. It was a team that liked each other. It was team that was a band of brothers on the hardwood courts across the country. The old plan suddenly scrapped. Two of the starters  dealt to Minnesota for a star in Jimmy Butler. Suddenly you feel another crack in the liberty bell in Philadelphia.

Minnesota Timberwolves gets rid of disgruntled Jimmy Butler sending him to 76ers along with Justin Patton.  The Timberwolves land two starters which were fan favorites in Philadelphia. Robert Covington and Dario Saric. Also thrown into the deal for the Timberwolves were Jerry Bayless and a 2022 second round draft pick. The Timberwolves know they can turn the page on the short Jimmy Butler era, who demanded a trade before the season started. They waited for the best deal. Then pulled the trigger as the Timberwolves are off to very slow start and they knew this was not going to work out with Jimmy Butler still in a Timberwolves uniform.   Philadelphia now has a big three established in Jimmy Butler coming east to Philadelphia. Already in place are Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. With this trade practically a done deal, the oddsmakers have already increased the 76ers chances to win the conference.

Tom Thibadeau is the man who made Jimmy Butler who he is. The Chicago Bulls drafted him and Thibs is responsible for making Jimmy Butler into a great defensive player. Jimmy Butler worked hard on his game and had the desire to get better as he became an offensive force. Jimmy Butler, a guy that can create his own shot and then play well at the other end to stop the opponents. Two way guys are definitely hard to find these days in league where turn stile defenses are the normal. Thibs then was fired from the Bulls. Landed on his feet in Minnesota and became their coach and was also President of basketball operations. He made the trade that landed Jimmy Butler and brought him to Minnesota. He gave up a lot to get him to the twin cities. Things worked out in the very first year as Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves made the playoffs. It’s been awhile since Minnesota made the playoffs. You have to go back to the Kevin Garnett days. It did not take things very long to go South as Jimmy Butler did not get along with teammates. This occurred in Chicago as well. Threw his old coach under the bus and forced the team to make this trade. Thibs gets criticized for relying on X Bulls players on his roster. Some call the Timberwolves the Bulls alum team. If things don’t turn around after cutting the fat off the bone, Thibs will find himself out of a job. When you live by the Bull, you die by the Bull.

I do not know if the 76ers get better with this trade. The 76ers traded away two starters for one. Obviously someone from the bench will be inserted into the line up. This trade will ruin some of the overall depth on the team. Imagine they will find some more players before the deadline to improve that depth. Then Jimmy Butler has only one year left on his deal presently which could haunt this team if you can not re-sign him. Elton Brand who took over the operations of the 76ers now has established the big three that is the main staple across the NBA. Who are your big three?

I do not know if Minnesota got back what they gave the Bulls for Jimmy Butler. I think the Timberwolves added some nice pieces in Saric and Covington. I do not think they are enough to get the Timberwolves back to playoffs. They may not be enough to save Thibs’ job after the season ends. Overall these pieces with some of the other young guys the Timberwolves have in place already, might be a good starting foundation. The Timberwolves took a few steps backwards but they got rid of the bad element in the locker room. Plus a good draft pick or good free agent signing and they could be back in the mix of things. However Tom Thibadeau might be in another town. He might be done in the NBA until the turn around is complete.

I think the 76ers are rushing themselves. Before the Warriors added Kevin Durant, they already were a very well established team. They even had a championship under their belt. All the years waiting, why did they have change their direction right now? If they stayed the course and watched this team continue to grow and get more confidence with the experience, then added the top free agent in the off season, look at all the depth you still have. Is Jimmy Butler going to fit in with your team or create another rift with his third team?  Will Jimmy Butler even sign with you after the season is over?  I can see him bolting to another team to play with some of his BF’S. Some team that has an open salary cap to fit all his posse under. Then you have to rebuild on the fly. If you can’t get the right pieces this whole thing folds on you like a house of cards. Then you have to start over just because patience was not a virtue and your new guy running the show needed to make a splash.  Ended up with egg on his face picking a questionable character like Jimmy Butler. Things were going well in Philadelphia on the sports landscape. The Eagles and possible the 76ers could be heading in a nose dive. The Phillies might over paid for high price talent with questionable character this off season. The Rocky statue should have a frown on its face seeing a bad sports cancer making it’s way through the City of Brotherly Love.