Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Butler trades to all 30 NBA teams

By Trey Flynn

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 3: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shake hands after the game on February 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 3: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shake hands after the game on February 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Jimmy Butler traded to the New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are 4-4 and are giving up the second most points in the NBA, only second to the Washington Wizards – which is saying a lot of things, bad things.

The Pelicans need defense, and Nikola Mirotic aint it – however he’s been one of the best offensive threats in the NBA this year (who knew?).

Moving Mirotic to the bench permanently and playing Jimmy Butler with Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis sounds like a defensive nightmare to opponents.

If you’re the Pelicans, you need to do whatever you possibly can do keep Davis before he hits free agency in 2021 (so this is a lot like our previous Bucks deal). And while the Pelicans tried to bring an All-Star into New Orleans last season in the form of Boogie Cousins, that just didn’t work quite like we thought.

The Timberwolves get a few players on nice deals to even out their roster in Solomon Hill and E’Twaun Moore, who will both most likely come off the bench.

And just like our Milwaukee Bucks deal, getting back two unprotected first in the future is HUGE, especially when one of them in 2022 could be a Pelicans pick without Anthony Davis on the team (so…tanking, maybe?).

This seems like a better deal for New Orleans, but let’s assume its not because Butler will most likely leave New Orleans for New York or Los Angeles next summer.