Winner – Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves got away with robbery, and they are still running. Minnesota traded away Zach LaVine, who’s coming off a torn ACL, Kris Dunn, who had a terrible rookie year and swapped first round pick to acquire one of the best two-way players in the league in Jimmy Butler.
The Timberwolves look to have an incredibly bright future with Butler, and two former number 1 picks in KAT and Wiggins. Teams like Cleveland and Boston look like they were getting and Butler and honestly, it didn’t seem like Minnesota could play over Chicago the same as the other two East teams to trade Butler to them, but they did it, and they still got a first round pick.
The Timberwolves swapped first round picks with Chicago in the deal, moving down from 7th overall to 16th overall and they drafted the seven-footer from Creighton, Justin Patton. Patton will provide some assistance to Towns in he is off the floor and I think he will suit Thibodeau’s playing style very well. Jimmy Butler also reunites with his former head coach with the Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, and they seemed to have a good relationship in Chicago.
I’m sure Butler will be much happier playing on a team that can contend for a title in a few years, if not now. Minnesota may have walked away looking the best from the draft.