The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a no-win situation when looking for a trade partner for Jimmy Butler, but head coach Tom Thibodeau thinks they got the best out of the circumstances.
The Timberwolves finally got over the drama surrounding the organization as they sent Jimmy Butler and second-year center Justin Patton to the Philadelphia 76ers. In return, they got defensive specialist Robert Covington, rising star Dario Saric, NBA veteran Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick.
While Minnesota didn’t get an All-Star player in the deal, Tom Thibodeau says he is happy with the returns from the Butler trade and even added that he’s thrilled they received a pick in the process.
Thibs: “Getting good players was our priority.” Says they are happy they got two good rotation players plus the draft pick.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) November 12, 2018
Butler requested a trade last September and emphasized he doesn’t want to be with the franchise, putting the Timberwolves at a disadvantage when discussing a potential deal with other teams. Moreover, although the All-Star swingman agreed to play as he awaits his trade, it became increasingly clear that Minnesota needs to deal him as soon as possible.
Fortunately for the Wolves, Thibodeau is right that they got quality players for Butler. Covington has developed into a legitimate 3-and-D player and is coming off a year that saw him earn NBA All-Defensive First Team honor.
Saric, on the other hand, is just 24-years-old and has all the tools to develop into a star player. He can gobble up rebounds and score from deep, making him a nightmare matchup for opponents.
Jerryd Bayless is currently dealing with a knee sprain but could return soon. Although the 30-year-old guard will have a hard time cracking the rotation in Minnesota, he is still a serviceable player that the Wolves can turn to when they need extra bodies.
Only time will tell who won the trade between the Sixers and Timberwolves. However, Thibs and his team have every reason to be happy as they can now move on from Butler and start anew.
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