PHILADELPHIA -- Malinaw na gusto ng 76ers na maglaro sa NBA Finals ngayong season — at maaaring nakuha na nila ang player na tutulong sa kanila sa katauhan ni Jimmy Butler.
Ibinigay ng Philadelphia sina starters Dario Saric at Robert Covington, veteran guard Jerryd Bayless at isang future second-round draft pick sa Minnesota Timberwolves para mahugot si Butler kasama si Justin Patton at isang 2017 first-round draft choice.
Ang 29-anyos na si Butler, isang four-time All-Star ay may bitbit na panganib sa kanyang nililipatang koponan matapos umalis sa Chicago at Minnesota.
“He has to be on his best behaviour, and he knows it,” sabi ng isang league executive sa ESPN. “If he screws up that team, that’ll be three straight teams. Someone will sign him in free agency, but he won’t get all that he’s asking for.”
Malaki ang maitutulong ni Butler kina Joel Embiid at Ben Simmons para sa kampanya ng 76ers ngayong season.
“In a lot of ways, Butler is perfect for the Philadelphia marketplace: tough-minded, fierce and unafraid. The fans will love him,” ani Adrian Wojnarowski ng ESPN. “As the Sixers fell behind Boston, Toronto and Milwaukee in the standings — and July free agency offered no guaranteed solutions — this deal made sense on every level for the Sixers.”
Idineklara naman ni Tom Haberstroh ng NBC Sports ang panalo ni Philadelphia coach Brett Brown.
“After netting Butler, they might be NBA Finals-bound. Might,” sabi ni Haberstroh. “The Sixers stumbled out of the gate this season, but with Butler, they’re back in the conversation for a Finals trip.”
“LeBron James is gone. The Boston Celtics are vulnerable. The Toronto Raptors are led by Kawhi Leonard, who only played nine games last season and has been on a strict no-back-to-back policy. The East is ripe for the taking,” dagdag pa nito.