Philadelphia 76ers: Complete 2019 offseason grades

Trading Jimmy Butler for Josh Richardson

In a vacuum, swapping an All-Star caliber player like Jimmy Butler for a lesser-known player in Josh Richardson from the Miami Heat would trigger some raw emotions. However, given the circumstances and what would eventually come later (more on this ahead), it was a deal that went down for all of the right reasons.

First, let’s ignore that it was Butler’s apparent desire to play in Miami. What cannot be ignored is that he is approaching his ninth NBA season, and will turn 30 years old in September. Compare that, along with his newly dotted contract to Richardson (26), an athletic wing of similar style whose best years could very well be ahead of him.

With the exception of a Rookie of the Month honor in 2016, Richardson has intermittently been in the public eye. As the fifth member of this new group, it’s likely he will be tasked with locking down an opponent’s best scoring guard at times next season — shoes Butler often filled during his tenure with the team.

It’s important to note that Richardson likely won’t score off the dribble as unsparingly as Butler, though he does have a reliable jumper from inside and out that should keep the defense well on its heels. But that won’t inhibit him from becoming more of a scoring weapon.

Richardson’s per game averages in that department have improved every year in the league by at least a 2.7 margin, so it will be interesting to see if that continues.

Grade: B+