Done Deal
The NBA Draft has come and go and boy did Tom Thibodeau, Scott Layden and the Minnesota Timberwolves shock the world.
The whole NBA world was waiting for a Paul George–Carmelo Anthony trade or even a Jimmy Butler trade, just not where he landed.
All the way up to the NBA draft we constantly heard Butler was going to the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics.
Sean Deveney tweeted earlier in the day that Butler, if moved, would go to Minnesota but that he was likely to stay put.
Around the league, execs say if Jimmy Butler goes anywhere tonight, it's Minnesota. But most think he stays put.
— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) June 22, 2017
We then received the news that Butler would be joining Minnesota from Adrian Wojnarowski:
Chicago is finalizing a deal to send Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and No. 7 pick, league source says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2017
Jimmy Butler and the 16th pick would go to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh pick.
This trade did more than just give the Minnesota a true playoff team but it also showed the NBA Thibodeau can pull the trigger.
Yes, losing LaVine hurts but Minnesota basically swapped Butler for LaVine and you have to take that.
Most importantly Butler gives Minnesota a superstar and also a recruiter this offseason, which will be huge.
With a team of Butler, Wiggins and Towns, free agents will now look at Minnesota and see that this team can win.
With free agents like Kyle Lowry, Gordan Hayward, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and more, Butler and Thibs will be pushing hard.
Jimmy Butler will be the true leader of this team and with a year under Thibs for the Wolves, look out NBA.
The night was overall amazing for the Wolves but it wasn’t perfect as it received two thumbs up and one down.