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Timberwolves: Analyzing the Jimmy Butler trade after one year

By Andrew Ites

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 15: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walk up the court at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 15: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walk up the court at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers defends against Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Now that a year has passed, let’s look back on how last season’s blockbuster trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers has worked out for both sides.

Many pundits around the league thought the Minnesota Timberwolves got an absolute steal on Draft Night 2017 when they got Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick from Chicago in exchange for Zach Lavine and the 7th overall pick.

While Butler did help get the Wolves to the playoffs for the first time since 2004, it’s hard to say Minnesota won that trade considering Lavine and Lauri Markkanen have played well in Chicago while Butler ended up forcing another trade and Justin Patton turned out to be a first round bust.

However, the Wolves’ front office was able to salvage the situation by getting a good return from Philadelphia after things went completely sour with Butler in Minnesota.

Last November, the Sixers sent Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Jerryd Bayless to the Wolves for Butler and the aforementioned Justin Patton.

Both organizations have to like the spot they’re in right now as Minnesota has a promising future and Philadelphia has one of the best rosters in the Eastern Conference. But it’s worth taking a look back at one of the biggest trades in recent history and determining how it affected each franchise.

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