![]TORONTO, ON – MAY 07: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers gestures during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5f840cf7e2ea653cfb8f58dc85aab777593bf983f31a3f8f363571f14ef87cc2.jpg "]TORONTO, ON – MAY 07: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers gestures during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)")
Jimmy Butler
In some ways this one is hard for me to swallow as I’m sure it may be for lots of Jazz fans as Jimmy Butler doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being the greatest teammate. However, put that aside for a second and bear with me, and I think you’ll see how fun this pairing could be.
Yes, Butler can come off a little rough around the edges with his cocky demeanor and rugged swagger. But his undying desire to compete and fight would make him an extremely exciting fit with this Jazz squad. Dennis Lindsey once described that when opposing teams played the Jazz, he wanted them to feel like they were visiting the world’s worst dentist, and adding Butler would certainly enhance that horrific experience.
Say what you will about Jimmy’s personality, but he’s a pit bull on the floor, a menace on the defensive end, and a relentless hustler every time he’s on the court. He’s not afraid to get physical or do the dirty work and is capable of coming up clutch and nailing big shots in key moments.
And he’d fit in swimmingly with a Jazz team known for getting under opponents’ skin. Guys like Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles already excel at doing so and having Butler around to further fan those flames by trash talking and digging at other players would make for a great combination. Speaking of Crowder, he and Butler were former teammates at Marquette and purportedly still have a good relationship with one another, which could help maintain and add a new intriguing layer to Utah’s chemistry.
Last of all, while the Jazz are known for getting under opponents’ skin, they’re also largely recognized as a nice group of guys, doing good in the community and being stand-up dudes on the basketball court. That’s great and a large reason why they’re so beloved by their local fans. However, sometimes in basketball, particularly in the postseason, you just need a little bit of nasty. That’s exactly the kind of attitude that Jimmy Butler could help inject into this squad.
Butler would be a gritty, hard-nosed player as well as an absolute star whose reputation as a 20-plus point scorer would be revolutionary for a Jazz team that needs an extra guy who can put up those kind of numbers. Unfortunately, Salt Lake City is about the last place I can see Butler winding up. The Philadelphia 76ers appear poised to offer him the big bucks next season and since his rocky exit from Minnesota, he appears to be the kind of guy that wants to be in the limelight of a large market.
Nevertheless, you have to respect his competitive nature and no-nonsense approach. The guy will stop at nothing to win and expects nothing but one hundred percent every game out of his teammates. That kind of discipline and drive would be well-received and applied by his potential Jazz teammates. Unfortunately, I believe the Jazz have a better chance of being re-admitted into the 2019 NBA Playoffs and winning a championship this summer than they do of adding Butler to their mix.