Joel Embiid Not Happy With His Role After Jimmy Butler Trade

Though the Philadelphia 76ers are winning in the recent times, it seems that not all the players are very happy.

Since Jimmy Butler arrived in Pennsylvania, Sixers started playing very good. For example, they lost only twice in the last 10 games, and are third in the East, unlike some three weeks ago. Brett Brown’s boys are looking very serious now, and the limits of this team are still not quite known.

However, Butler’s landing in Philly caused many adjustments to take place on the court. Ben Simmons’ usage in the attack is not that big anymore, but the Rookie of the Year in 2017 accepted that without even mentioning it.

Nashville News Jimmy Butler Scores 38 and Helps Lead Comeback vs Pistons | December 7, 2018 – NBA https://t.co/JZWkxacInT pic.twitter.com/MTSUyn27mi

— NashvilleNewsChannel (@Nashville_NC) December 8, 2018

On the other side, Joel Embiid didn’t want to be quiet when it came to his adjustments. His numbers dropped after the trade because he isn’t able to play his usual game anymore, which is around the basket and in the paint. Now, because of Buttler’s isolation near the rim, Embiid has to go out and shoot a lot more than he used to.

“I haven’t been myself lately,” one of the best centers in the league began his interview.

“I think it’s mainly because of the way I’ve been used, which is I’m being used as a spacer, I guess, a stretch five, which I’m only shooting [29] percent” from three-point range.” he said.

As the interview went along, Sixers center was very specific on what he doesn’t like and how he feels about that.

” It seems like the past couple games, like with the way I play, our setup, [Brown] always has me starting on the perimeter … and it just really frustrates me. My body feels great, and it’s just I haven’t been playing well.”

And really, the numbers don’t lie, the third overall pick from 2014 NBA Draft did play better before the big trade. In 15 games up to that point, Embiid had 28.2 points, with 48% from the field. After the deal, his FG percentage dropped to 43.1 percent and he posts 23.8 points.

The big man from Cameroon knows that, and he also noticed that his statistics are going downwards ever since four-time All-Star landed from Minnesota. He openly spoke about that and made some comments which might ruin the chemistry in Philly’s locker room.

Since the trade, it’s been really down,” he said of his success ratio. “I tend to get triple-teamed a lot. I was in the flow of the offense. I feel like I’m not any more. There’s not a lot of possessions on the block. I don’t know. We got to figure it out.”

Coach Brett Brown said that he doesn’t want to make any fuzz about the current situation, and that he agrees that Embiid needs to have his game back. Still, the 57-year old doesn’t want to think that Butler’s game had anything to do with his numbers. In fact, he considers that it could make them even better.

#Sixers coach Brett Brown said it is tough resting @JoelEmbiid in a road game at fourth-place #Detroit #Pistons. But… “he needs rest. That’s the bottom line.” pic.twitter.com/CqXOYwtZbb

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) December 7, 2018

“I don’t want to connect those dots,” Brown said “But I think in general we all have to do better at creating space for Joel.”

“I do not see the connection of Jimmy having much to do with spacing,” he continued. “In fact, I think it completely enhances the possibility to have better spacing.”

We still don’t know the reaction of the player on this statement, but him being displeased could be something which endangers the chemistry on the floor. Butler is also known as a type of person who is sometime hard to cooperate with, and in the long run, Brett Brown might be in a tough position when it comes to keeping both players calm and focused on the results.