Back to the Philadelphia 76ers Newsfeed

Will Jimmy Butler be happy this time? The Sixers are betting everything on it. | Bob Ford

The Sixers are hoping that in his third NBA stop Jimmy Butler will be the doughnut and not the hole.

Matt Rourke / AP

For every NBA team that believes it is within a step or two of contending for a championship — already a lofty and difficult accomplishment in the league — there comes that moment when the organization must decide to put its head in the tiger's mouth.

This isn't lightly done, because it means the team, through trade or free agency, must take on either an immensely limiting salary obligation or a basketball personality equally capable of uniting the team or tearing it apart.