Now that the Philadelphia 76ers have traded Dario Saric to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Jimmy Butler trade, who plays power forward?
There was elation among Philadelphia 76ers fans after the team pulled off a blockbuster trade and was finally successful in the “star hunting” that was a failure in the offseason.
But after the elation subsides and the dust settles, there comes the realization that the 76ers are without a starting power forward.
Philly traded two starters, swingman Robert Covington and power forward Dario Saric, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for All-Star Jimmy Butler. The 76ers also included injured point guard Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second round pick. The Timberwolves included injured center Justin Patton.
Jimmy Butler has played both shooting guard and small forward in his NBA career with the Chicago Bills and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Although it’s not clear what the new 76ers lineup will look like, we do know that Ben Simmons has been starting at point guard and Joel Embiid is the starting center. If Markelle Fultz and J.J. Redick continue to split time at shooting guard and Jimmy Butler plays small forward, that leaves a hole in the lineup at power forward. Here are four options to fill it.