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Minnesota gets: Jimmy Butler, No. 16 pick (Justin Patton)
Chicago gets: No. 7 pick (Lauri Markannen), Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn
Minnesota gets: Jimmy Butler, No. 16 pick (Justin Patton)
Chicago gets: No. 7 pick (Lauri Markannen), Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn
And you thought big-time heists only happened in movies.
Somehow, the Timberwolves pulled off a diamond like superstar Jimmy Butler for dirt-cheap in comparison.
The loss of Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, while perhaps someday quality players, don't hurt the 'Wolfpack too much. Ricky Rubio is holding down the fort at point guard and is posting double-doubles nightly, and bolstering backcourt depth via free agency will be no sweat at all for the front office. Dunn was the fifth overall pick in 2015, but disappointed big-time last season with averages of just 3.8 points and 2.4 assists on a measly 37.7% shooting from the field in 17.1 minutes per game, and is already old for a rookie at 23. LaVine surprised last year with 18.9 points per game on 45.3% shooting, but his defense was atrocious: the T-Wolves did significantly better after his ACL tear mid-season. For now, LaVine is merely a one-dimensional player, and his scoring punch is easily replaceable.
As well, it's hard to argue that the 'Wolves missed out on the "Next Big Thing" with Markannen at number seven, who -- while an amazing inside-outside scorer -- is a poor defender, like LaVine, and also needs to bulk up significantly before being able to be a legitimate post-up presence at the next level. Honestly, I viewed Zach Collins as the best true big man in this draft from the beginning, and wouldn't say the difference between Justin Patton -- who is very efficient around the basket and is also a great rim protector on defense -- and Markannen is anything to lose sleep over.
Somehow, the Timberwolves pulled off a diamond like superstar Jimmy Butler for dirt-cheap in comparison.
The loss of Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, while perhaps someday quality players, don't hurt the 'Wolfpack too much. Ricky Rubio is holding down the fort at point guard and is posting double-doubles nightly, and bolstering backcourt depth via free agency will be no sweat at all for the front office. Dunn was the fifth overall pick in 2015, but disappointed big-time last season with averages of just 3.8 points and 2.4 assists on a measly 37.7% shooting from the field in 17.1 minutes per game, and is already old for a rookie at 23. LaVine surprised last year with 18.9 points per game on 45.3% shooting, but his defense was atrocious: the T-Wolves did significantly better after his ACL tear mid-season. For now, LaVine is merely a one-dimensional player, and his scoring punch is easily replaceable.
As well, it's hard to argue that the 'Wolves missed out on the "Next Big Thing" with Markannen at number seven, who -- while an amazing inside-outside scorer -- is a poor defender, like LaVine, and also needs to bulk up significantly before being able to be a legitimate post-up presence at the next level. Honestly, I viewed Zach Collins as the best true big man in this draft from the beginning, and wouldn't say the difference between Justin Patton -- who is very efficient around the basket and is also a great rim protector on defense -- and Markannen is anything to lose sleep over.
So then Minnesota gets Jimmy. A legit superstar, Butler averaged 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on efficient 45.5/36.7/86.5 shooting splits in 2016-17. The advanced stats check out too: his PER was 14th in the league last season, and ESPN's "Real plus-minus" statistic pegged him at seventh in the league -- and third (behind just Curry and LeBron) when factoring in his huge minutes load over 79/82 played games. The wingman is undoubtedly a top-ten player in the association, and will do wonders to (likely) help lift these Timberwolves into the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
But the biggest misconception about Jimmy-to-Minny is that his biggest impact on the young squad will be on offense. In fact, however, I'd hardly be surprised should both Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns eclipse Butler in scoring. The Timberwolves finished just 26th in defensive efficiency last season, whereas the 27-year-old led his Bulls to a number six rating. The pressure and the example that he -- and head coach Tom Thibodeau who Butler will be reunited with in Minny from their Chicago days -- will put on the youngsters like Wiggins and Towns, who often lacked 110% effort on that side of the ball, will work wonders for these Timberwolves.
The 'pack is coming.
Grade: A+
But the biggest misconception about Jimmy-to-Minny is that his biggest impact on the young squad will be on offense. In fact, however, I'd hardly be surprised should both Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Towns eclipse Butler in scoring. The Timberwolves finished just 26th in defensive efficiency last season, whereas the 27-year-old led his Bulls to a number six rating. The pressure and the example that he -- and head coach Tom Thibodeau who Butler will be reunited with in Minny from their Chicago days -- will put on the youngsters like Wiggins and Towns, who often lacked 110% effort on that side of the ball, will work wonders for these Timberwolves.
The 'pack is coming.
Grade: A+
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