“It’s Getting Crowded in Here, Jimmy Butler,” and Other Highlights From the NBA Trade Deadline

Think back to the third Austin Powers movie, Goldmember.  Think back to the only funny bit in the whole movie. Dr. Evil and his cronies are holed up in their secret lair.  They are trying to accomplish their goal of taking over the world.  

The only person getting in the way is Mini Me, who has just been usurped in the pecking order by Dr. Evil’s once-despised son, Scott.  Dr. Evil is sick of Mini Me and he wants him to leave.  

“Alright, it’s getting crowded in here,” declares Dr. Evil.  “Everyone out!  Everyone out, c’mon.  Not you Scotty, not you Number Two, not you Frau, not you Goldmember.  Not you guys back there, not you henchman holding wrench, not you person arbitrarily turning knobs making it seem like you’re doing something.”

After a pause, during which Mini Me doesn’t budge from his chair, Dr. Evil continues, “Ohh, this is uncomfortable.”

Goldmember then says, “Hehehe, the tiny one can’t take a hint.”

With the NBA trade deadline having come and gone, Jimmy Butler must be feeling a lot like Mini Me in Philadelphia.

Jimmy Butler was the guy who was dying to get out of Minnesota.  Philadelphia came to his rescue, trading away two good players for him because they wanted an All Star to help them contend for the title this year.  Jimmy was happy to be out of Minnesota.  He wanted to play for a championship contender and he wanted to sign a max extension with that contender this summer for upwards of $40 million a year.  

This season was going to be a try-out for the Sixers to see if they wanted to keep Jimmy for the next several years or not.  

What did Jimmy do?  Soon after arriving, he complained about the Sixers’ offense.  Not enough pick and rolls for his liking.  He ripped into the head coach during a film session, confused about why he didn’t get to have the ball in his hands more often for pick and roll plays.  He wanted to change the team’s established offensive philosophy. 

Jimmy always has a message to send.  In Chicago, it was, “Everyone should work as hard as me.”  

In Minnesota, before it was, “Trade me,” it was, “Everyone should work as hard as me.”  

Did Jimmy mention that he’s a hard worker? 

To Jimmy’s credit, since the news broke of his outburst in the Sixers’ film room, he hasn’t made a peep.  

But now, it’s the Sixers’ front office sending messages.  Welcome to Philadelphia, Tobias Harris!  Welcome to town, guy who plays the same position as Jimmy Butler.  Welcome to town, guy who’s having the best year of his career.  Welcome to town, guy who’s three years younger than Jimmy Butler.  Who doesn’t have Jimmy Butler’s history of knee problems.  Who is also on the last year of his contract and wants to sign a max deal this summer.  

Due to the NBA salary cap, teams can only afford to have three to four “max” guys.  For Philadelphia, the max guys are going to be Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.  It was perhaps going to be Jimmy Butler, as well.  Now, it looks like it’s going to be either Jimmy Butler OR Tobias Harris. Both will be seeking out max deals this summer.  Philly’s only going to keep one, as they play the same position.  

It’s basically Tobias Harris’ spot to lose.  He’s younger, he doesn’t have a checkered injury history, he hasn’t divided the locker room of his two previous teams.  And he hasn’t chewed out the Sixers’ coach.   

It might ultimately come down to who performs better in the playoffs.  But it’s starting to feel a little bit crowded in here, Jimmy.  

A rundown of the other big news:

The Pelicans failed to complete the trade that Anthony Davis requested, stranding him in New Orleans for now.  His management team, Klutch Sports, also manages Lebron James.  The Lakers offered basically their entire team, except for Lebron James, in a trade for Davis.  New Orleans said no.  

The Lakers offered some highly coveted players in that deal.  No one of Davis’ stature, but still.  That might have been the best trade package New Orleans was going to get.  

One thought is that New Orleans waited to make the trade because Boston can get into the bidding this summer. They might have a better offer. They might offer Jayson Tatum. MIGHT is the key word, as Danny Ainge hasn’t promised anything.  But is Tatum better than the Lakers’ Brandon Ingram?  I’m not sure.

My personal theory is two-fold.  One, New Orleans wanted to keep their ticket sales up for the remainder of this year.  Anthony Davis sells tickets.  

Two, they kept Davis away from the Lakers out of spite.  

Yes, they might let the Lakers have him this summer if their offer ends up being better than Boston’s or New York’s.  But at least they kept him off of the Lakers for this year, a year in which he’d certainly vault them into the playoff race and potentially deep into the playoffs.  Without him, the Lakers may not even make the playoffs. 

Perhaps Anthony Davis ends up helping the Lakers next year, but he won’t help them this year.  Mission accomplished, as far as New Orleans ownership is concerned.

Harrison Barnes traded from Dallas to Sacramento.  Lebron James made this trade into big news when he tweeted about how Barnes learned he was traded in the middle of a game.  Barnes chose to continue playing for his (technically) former team until the game was over.  The point that Lebron made was that players are criticized for lacking loyalty when they ask for trades and when they leave in free agency.  But teams aren’t criticized for lacking loyalty when they trade guys who are playing their hearts out for them.  Good point, Lebron.

Otto Porter Jr. traded from Washington to Chicago.  The Bulls gave up two guys who weren’t going to be with them next year, anyway.  They received a young, talented, albeit highly paid small forward who is under contract until 2021.  

Why did the Bulls give up on Bobby Portis?  He turned down a contract extension last summer.  The Bulls supposedly offered him four years and $48 million.  BP wanted to try for more. Yet, he remained a reserve player this year, and the Bulls decided they’d prefer not to pay a bench guy more than $12 million per year.

Why did the Bulls give up on Jabari Parker?  He was on a one year deal, coming off his second ACL surgery.  He didn’t earn a starting spot.  He had a cloud of negativity surrounding him from the beginning in Chicago, starting with his radio interview over the summer where he said, “They don’t pay players to play defense.”

I know it’s a different sport, but in a city where the ’85 Bears are royalty, people don’t enjoy hearing the sentiment, “They don’t pay players to play defense.”  Parker is from Chicago, so he should know.

Besides that, look at the Bulls’ history—Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, the vaunted “Doberman” defense of the six title teams?  The Bulls have a proud history of defense, as well.

It will be interesting to see where Parker’s career goes from here.  Former #2 overall pick.  Very talented (on offense, at least).  He wasn’t worth the headache for the Bulls, as he has an All-Star ego but isn’t an All Star.  

As his knees continue to get stronger, though, he just may round into form in the next year or two and become an All Star.  If he plays well enough to end this year, I could see the Wizards re-signing him.  

Back to the Lakers for a moment—they should have a fun second half of the season after everyone (except Lebron James) was offered to New Orleans for Anthony Davis.  Not only were they offered, they were rejected!  Ouch!  Plus, everyone knows it was Lebron’s management group (a.k.a. Lebron himself) that was trying to pull the strings of the deal from the Lakers’ end.  It’ll be a fun locker room to be around from here on out!

Former #1 overall pick Markelle Fultz went from Philadelphia to Orlando.  Fresh start?

Marc Gasol traded from Memphis to Toronto.  He had a good run in Memphis, but it will be fun to see him team up with Kawhi Leonard on a contender in Toronto. Pau Gasol was the final piece for the last Lakers title team. Will Marc Gasol be the final piece for the first Raptors title team? 

Kristaps Porzingis traded from New York to Dallas.  He was sick of rebuilding in New York.  Now he gets to rebuild in Dallas.  Starting next year, that is, when he comes back from ACL surgery.  At least he’ll have more help in Dallas with Luka Doncic. 

ESPN trivia—let’s talk about that for a moment.  ESPN tends to throw NBA trivia at you from time to time.  For example:

“James Harden has scored 13 or more points in the second quarter of 17 consecutive Tuesday home games. Who is the only player who has scored 13 or more points in the second quarter of more consecutive Tuesday home games?”

THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS MICHAEL JORDAN OR WILT CHAMBERLAIN.  ON ESPN, THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS MICHAEL JORDAN OR WILT CHAMBERLAIN.  THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.  IT’S LIKE GOING TO CHRISTIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR THREE YEAR OLDS, WHERE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS JESUS, GOD, AND THE BIBLE.  THE ANSWER ON ESPN IS ALWAYS MICHAEL JORDAN OR WILT CHAMBERLAIN.

On that note, you are now up to speed on the NBA trade deadline.  Thanks for reading!