As the season rolls on, we are right where we thought we would be. Things are going exactly as planned. The only person 5-28 sounds great to is probably the man in charge of this operation, and that same man knows the time to actually start winning games is coming. The summer of 2015 could be the next stepping stone for a team that has made losing its sole purpose in life for the past year and a half. The free agent class of 2015 is stacked to put it lightly. With names such as 2014 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, all- star power forward Lamarcus Aldridge, Deandre Jordan, Rajon Rondo, and the list goes on. Lebron James and Kevin Love remain at the top, but for them to not pick up their player options would be almost unthinkable, so I’ll put them to the side.
Another interesting name pops up on the radar when you talk about free agents this summer and that person is Jimmy Butler. Butler is a 25 year old shooting guard of the Chicago Bulls whose name might not have been the most attractive at the beginning of the year. Things are subject to change though. Butler has played at an extremely high level all season, especially when Derrick Rose is missing in action. He is putting up all-star numbers averaging 21.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest according to ESPN.com. Butler is proving to be more and more valuable as the days go by for Chicago, who has seen Derrick Rose battle injuries time after time. I’m sure by the season’s end teams will be lining up with max offer sheets in an attempt to land the rising star, but the only problem is the Bull’s will have final say given that Butler is a restricted free agent.
In my opinion, the Sixers should absolutely give Butler some type of offer at the very least, especially given the amount of cap we have to play with. Butler being the 25 year old shooting guard that he is could be a perfect fit for a team that lacks experience and a winning attitude. Butler has undoubtedly showcased the ability to score the ball, which is exactly what the Sixers lack. Someone who can be a go-to scorer at times and provide a boost of offense would be extremely beneficial to a team that ranks dead last in offensive efficiency. You need players like Butler in the fold to make the younger players around him better. In the end, it would probably be a longshot for Butler to be on any team besides the Bulls next year, but like I said the Sixers should do what they can to add the potential franchise altering player this summer.
