Why The Celtics Shouldn’t Trade For Jimmy Butler
Jimmy, you’re great. It’s not you, it’s me.
While the Celtics are in the market for a proven NBA superstar, and Jimmy Butler, a clear-cut top-15 player, is being shopped by the Bulls, it is realistically not a match made in heaven. Butler’s name has been connected to Boston in trade rumors for about two years, but if the Celtics and Jimmy Butler were on The Bachelor, Butler wouldn’t make it past the preliminary round.
Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler is one of the NBA’s finest two-way stars. He is one of the most efficient players in the game, he can make plays off the dribble, and he can defend multiple positions when engaged. On paper, he sounds perfect for the Celtics. Another ball-handler to take the pressure off Isaiah? Yes please. A guard that can defend AND shoot—a combination of skills most Celtics guards have yet to discover—where do I sign?
Before the most recent wave of trade rumors died down, an NBA exec texted CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill: “it’s either Boston or Cleveland, but he’s going.”
But, even if Jimmy Butler is the best player on the trade market right now (yes, he’s better than Paul George), he’s not Boston’s best option by a long shot.
The Isaiah-Butler Fit Is Iffy
Since the Celtics passed on Markelle Fultz, they appear committed to Thomas running the show. The Little Guy dropped nearly 30 points per game last year and was one of the NBA’s best crunch-time scorers, but how would his production change if he was playing with Jimmy Butler in the backcourt?
Jimmy Butler is at his best when he has the ball in his hands. So is Thomas. Although Isaiah is adept at playing off the ball, running around screens and attacking off handoffs, he is still most effective in the pick-and-roll.
A player like Jayson Tatum—and definitely Gordon Hayward—complements Thomas’ skill-set much better than Butler. They also fit into Boston’s motion offense easier, while Butler likes to hold the ball and take his man one-on-one.
Butler is relatively useless when he doesn’t have the ball. Of course, he’s good at slashing to the rim, but he shot an abysmal 26 percent from behind the arc last year. The Celtics simply would not have the spacing they need running out lineups with Butler, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder and Jaylen Brown.
Even off the court, the fit is awkward. Butler and Thomas are both historically headstrong guys, and if they clash on the court, who knows what they’d be like in the locker room? With two loud voices in the clubhouse, the Celtics could run into the same problem the Bulls had: “Whose team is this?”
It’s entirely possible that I’m wrong. This is the worst case scenario. And if anyone could make it work, it’s Brad Stevens. But it’s still reasonable to be skeptical of the pairing.
Jayson Tatum Or Josh Jackson Will Cost Much, Much Less And Make Up A Good Portion Of His Production
Good players on rookie deals are the best assets — besides top-10 talents — in the NBA. If the Celtics are confident they can hit on a solid player with the third pick, they should hold onto it, even if it means losing Butler.
Picking Jackson or Tatum also allows the Celtics the cap flexibility to sign free agent Gordon Hayward (or Blake Griffin). Would you rather have Jimmy Butler, or Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum? Tatum and Hayward, in my opinion, are better for both next season and long-term, and the Celtics love making moves for the present and the future.
Even though Butler is on an extremely friendly contract, the Celtics would still owe him roughy $40 million over the next two years. Compare that to the four years, $18 million the third overall pick could sign. Tatum has the potential to immediately enter the league and score 16 points per game, just eight shy of what Butler averages. It’s also possible Jackson quickly becomes one of the game’s best defenders, similar to Butler. In their own ways, they can contribute to the team to a comparable degree of Butler.
Adding Butler is a move with one sole purpose: to beat Cleveland. But would he even be enough to dethrone King James? Cleveland beat the Celtics convincingly in five games, albeit Isaiah Thomas’ injured hip was a major factor. Jimmy Butler is not worth three playoff wins against Cleveland as they’re currently constituted (which is a story in itself right now).
The Celtics reportedly rejected Chicago’s offer of Butler for the third overall pick straight up, which is a puzzling development if true. Maybe Ainge is starting to think the way I am.
Boston’s Best Option Is Out There
Butler is great. But, Kristaps Porzingis is a monster.
If the Knicks are serious about taking calls about their 7-foot-3 unicorn still on his rookie deal, “Trader Danny” should make them an offer they can’t refuse.
Porzingis is the type of player that you stockpile assets for. When he becomes available, you push all the chips to the middle of the table. He has the potential to be a transformational talent. Plus, once again, he’s still on his rookie deal.
He provides the Celtics what they need: a big body who can protect the rim and rebound, but also stretch the floor and fit into what they do offensively. He’s like Kelly Olynyk if he went to Tony Bosch’s biogenisis lab in Miami twice a month to get some of A-Rod’s HGH.
Do whatever you can to establish a core of Isaiah Thomas, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Marcus Smart and Porzingis, and go from there. Bring Hayward in, and you’ve already got something cooking.
It’s going to take a lot. It would probably take three first-round picks and a starter. The Celtics can afford that. With exception of next year’s Brooklyn pick, there’s no chance they draft a player as good as Porzingis.
The Celtics have enough picks in the next four years to draft a whole 15-man roster. Just logistically, they have to trade some of those picks anyways. Why not get a potential generational star in return?
While Celtics fans have been clamoring for Danny Ainge to make a wish upon a shooting superstar for years, Jimmy Butler is just a plane whose blinking lights flash in the Boston sky, and Porzingis is a meteor.
