1. Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn doesn’t appear to be a good landing spot on the surface for a player like Jimmy Butler. Pretty much every NBA fan would view the Nets as a step back compared to the situation Butler is in with the Sixers right now. Yet, both teams are moving in the right direction in much different ways.
The Sixers do have the personnel in place in the frontcourt to thrive long-term, but the backcourt isn’t on the same level. The Nets could lockdown rising star and 2019 All-Star selection point guard D’Angelo Russell to a long-term max deal this summer. That looks to be the wise move for the Nets now
Butler could join a building team with the Nets that could be title contenders for a long time coming out of the East. Russell and Butler would be a nice duo that could play well off each other and help this team thrive on both ends of the floor.
Moving the Nets one step forward to title contention could involve getting a veteran off the free agent market. In the East this season, the Nets were the surprise playoff team and have a lot of potential next season to make even more noise if Butler makes his way to Brooklyn.