How player options shape the NBA rosters

#2 Jimmy Butler: 5 years $92.3 million dollar contract opt out in 2019

Jimmy Butler is an enigma. While it seems he’s running out of options with his attitude, he has a player option clause this summer in his contract. The problem is Philadelphia general manager Elton Brand has traded a ton of depth in Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and Jerryd Bayless to acquire Butler. So while Philadelphia’s starting five rivals the best in the NBA’s Eastern Conference they are not a deep team. To make matters worse, Butler’s inclusion in the 76ers offense affected Joel Embiid’s play for a while and he griped about it publicly. Now, Butler is not happy.

Adrian Wojnawski of ESPN tweeted on January 4th, 2019:

“Reporting with @ramonashelburne: Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler has aggressively challenged coach Brett Brown on All-Star’s role in 76ers offense, complicating an already-tenuous chemistry among team’s Big 3 hierarchy."

With no guarantee, thanks to a player opt-out clause in June of this year, Butler if unhappy in Philadelphia will weaken the third team in three years with his departure this time via free agency. Elton Brand will need to sit down with all sides and try and get coach Brett Brown, Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler on the same page for the sake of the team. The 76ers are 4th in the Eastern Conference at 25-14 and are on a two game winning streak. For a team that wins as often as Philadelphia does the drama is unsettling.