2. Jimmy Butler’s durability
While the performance by a player may fluctuate from season to season, one thing you hope to have consistent is durability. Being available and able to play is arguably the greatest talent that a player can have. Unfortunately, Butler has not been able to do that throughout his career.
Outside of his rookie season, when he was not apart of the rotation, Butler has played in all 82 games only once. That came in his second season in the league. In the following five seasons, the most games Butler has appeared in is 76. He has never appeared in more than 67 games in any other season.
That alone should be cause for concern for New York. With Kristaps Porzinigs already showcasing durability concerns, bringing in another player that cannot stay on the court consistently is a risky move.
At 29 years old, Butler is unlikely to become more durable with age. He has a lot of mileage on him, something a lot of Tom Thibodeau-coached players have had to deal with. The Knicks are already seeing the effects of that with Joakim Noah. Luol Deng is another player that saw his production fall off quickly after playing with Thibodeau.
Given his age and injury history, Butler would be a tough sell. Paying him as a max player into his mid-30s sounds like a poor chance to get a good return on investment.