Welp, it only took 21 games. Jimmy Butler is frustrated.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Butler challenged Brett Brown and his offensive system. Butler was vocal with Brown during a recent film session in Portland.
"Some witnesses considered [it] disrespectful and beyond normal player-coach discourse," Woj wrote.
Butler, 29, was acquired by the Sixers for Robert Covington and Dario Saric on November 12th. In 21 games, Butler is averaging 18.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a Sixers shooting 46.2 FG% / 38.8 3FG% / 88.2 FT%.
According to Wojnarowksi, "The franchise's full focus and resources remain on making this new partnership work this season and beyond."
Butler has a player option for the 2019-20 season and is expected to become a free-agent, seeking a five-year max contract. Ben Simmons, 22, is also eligible for a max contract in July of 2019, and will almost certainly get it. The Sixers will have to decide if they want to squeeze in a third max with Butler, Simmons, and Joel Embiid—who signed a five-year deal worth $147,710,050 in October of 2017.
By trading away Covington and Saric, the Sixers left themselves with a depleted bench. Markelle Fultz's progress, or lack thereof, may have forced the hand of general manager to make the move for Butler, sacrificing two of his key role players. Fultz's future with the team, or as a basketball player actually, is completely up in the air.
