New York Knicks: How top 2019 free agents have played in contract year
Jimmy Butler
Age: 29
Height, Weight: 6-foot-8, 230 pounds
Slash Line: .470/.347/.857
Season Averages: 18.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.1 3PM
Current Contract: $20.45 million ($19.8 million player option for 2019-20)
Jimmy Butler‘s saga with the Minnesota Timberwolves feels like it happened an eternity ago, as his 45 games with the Philadelphia 76ers have drawn occasional headlines, but not as much as working with the third-team ‘Wolves in practice.
At one point in a scrimmage, sources said, Butler turned to GM Scott Layden and screamed, "You (bleeping) need me. You can't win without me." Butler left teammates and coaches largely speechless. He dominated the gym in every way. Jimmy's back.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018
That was only in October, and Minnesota traded Butler after he played just 10 games for them.
The long-time Chicago Bull has played well in Philadelphia, with 18.4 points per game off Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. There was a case of him challenging head coach Brett Brown in early January, but that disappeared quickly.
Can this group work together past 2018-19, though? It depends on Butler willingly sharing the basketball into his 30s, since he will turn 30 before the 2019-20 season starts. There’s also the injury risk, as he crossed 70 games just twice in eight NBA campaigns.
For anyone that hands Butler a max deal, that makes it as risky as any potential free agent in July. How long can a team like the New York Knicks guarantee him on the floor? Especially after recurring knee injuries and other ailments that caused him to sit out previously.
Investing $30 million per year until Butler is 34 is a gamble. Maybe it’s the Sixers, to preserve their window for another season or two, but how many other teams will line up for him, after the events of the past few seasons and what could follow up?