NBA
Timberwolves and Sixers Complete Blockbuster Deal
On Saturday, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent their disgrunted all star, Jimmy Butler, who requested a trade almost two months ago, to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers and Timberwolves pull off a deal that both franchises needed to make. It has been reported that the Sixers are sending Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second round draft pick. Minnesota will also be sending over their 2017 pick Justin Patton as well in the trade.
The trade may seem like a pretty unfair deal, and rightly so. Butler is a four-time all star who is an all defensive first team player and he was traded for two solid role players and a pick. There is a huge discrepancy of talent between the players involved, but the players involved fit the needs that the Sixers and Timberwolves needed to address.
How Does This Deal Help The Timberwolves
This deal might be lopsided in favor of the Sixers, but it’s not as lopsided as most think. By getting Covington, they get the definition of a 3 and D player. He is 6’9″ strong defender that has a 7’2″ wingspan. Covington is coming off of an All Defensive first team season and is shooting 39% from three point range this year. He’s a player that has the capability of guarding positions 1-4 as well.
Saric fits the need that the Timberwolves haven’t had which is a stretch four. They also get another playmaker as well. He’s having a bit of an off year to start out though. Hopefully it’s just because the Sixers were having issues at times trying to implement him into the offense.
This Deal Can Benefit Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins
In adding Covington and Saric, they can help out both Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. With the added 3-point shooting between Saric and Covington, it will open up space for Towns to do work in the post, and give Wiggins space to get to the rim. Wiggins may also benefit by sliding into the 2nd scoring option again where he’s been most effective. Covington also can guard stronger players for Wiggins and he could then slide to the shooting guard position.
In trading Butler, the Timberwolves got rid of a lot of toxic drama that was effecting the entire team. The past few games it looked like Butler was purposely throwing games, but the stat sheet may not have shown in it. Towns and Wiggins can now establish themselves as the team’s stars. There will be no arguing about whose team it is anymore.
One thing is though is Minnesota will most likely take a step back, but even with Butler they wouldn’t have won. He would’ve made sure of it, and if you watched him as of late it seemed like he was. He took bad shots, had dumb turnovers in crucial moments, missed clutch free throws, and overall bad demeanor.
What The 76ers Received
Philadelphia did win this trade still. Butler adds that third star to go along with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. He’s the star the Sixers needed to compete with the top teams in the league. This puts them able to compete with teams in the east like the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and the red hot Milwaukee Bucks.
By landing Butler, it can ease off pressure on Markelle Fultz to perform well. Butler can now start for them and shift Fultz to a more suitable role coming off the bench. He also will be the third scorer for the Sixers which will reduce the scoring load expected from Embiid. He will fix rotational issues that needed to be addressed as well.
His outlandish and trolling personality will also fit in perfectly with with that team. The chemistry shouldn’t take long to form. Philadelphia is getting a happy Butler. He’ll be going to a contender and not a team that’s either rebuilding or be a first round exit. Butler will also give the Sixers a player that understands how to compete in the playoffs considering they could go deep this year.
Overall Verdict Of The Timberwolves and Sixers Trade
Both teams can walk away happy with this trade. Obviously, the Sixers will be happier than the Timberwolves since this will effect them immediately. Minnesota will likely be going into another rebuilding mode.
This does put Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau on the hot seat. The only real reason that was keeping him in Minnesota was Butler. This was Thibodeau’s big project and it blew up in his face.
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