The 2017 NBA Draft did not disappoint. The story of the night was not a draft selection but a trade. The Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the NBA world by acquiring Jimmy Butler and the 16th pick in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the 7th overall pick in the draft. Butler will reunite with coach Tom Thibodeau. So who wins in this deal? The answer is clear.
Timberwolves are the big winners
The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a tremendous deal. Their fans should give credit to coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau for making this deal happen, especially if one takes into account that he had to deal with the team that fired him a couple of years ago.
Ever since Thibodeau took the reins of the Timberwolves last year, Jimmy Butler's name has floated around Minneapolis. The Timberwolves and Bulls could not pull the trigger last summer. This may be attributed to the Wolves' willingness to see what Dunn could become or the Bulls' fear of committing to rebuilding the team.
The Timberwolves have acquired one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Butler, 27, made the All-NBA third team this season. The 6 ft 7 in guard/forward averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 6.2 rebounds per game. These are career numbers for Butler. He has improved every season and seems to be entering his prime at the right moment for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves were also able to select Creighton center Justin Patton with the 16th pick.
The Timberwolves had recently waived injured Nikola Pekovic, and the other center in the roster, Cole Aldrich, did not produce great minutes off the bench last season. Thus, the 6 ft 11 in Patton will be a nice addition to the team.
What did the Bulls do?
The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, left many wondering why they accepted such a deal.
Zach LaVine is an outstanding athlete and streaky shooter. However, the shooting guard will be coming off an ACL injury that ended his last season with the Timberwolves. His defense also leaves much to be desired.
Kriss Dunn is the other player in this deal. The point guard had an underwhelming rookie season. Many expected him to take Ricky Rubio's position, but Rubio had other plans as he elevated his game.
Dunn only managed to play 17.1 minutes per game, and while he displayed great defensive skills, his offense definitely looked like it had a long way to go. His jump shot is not there and his ability to get his teammates involved is weak for the moment.
The Bulls also got the Timberwolves' 7th overall pick and had the Wolves make their selection as a result. They picked Lauri Markkanen, a 7-footer from Finland who can spread the floor and knock down 3-pointers. After taking a look at the whole package the Bulls received, it seems like it does not match All-Star Jimmy Butler's value.
Yes, the Bulls front office had to be bold and commit to rebuilding the team, finally. Jimmy Butler alone was not going to take them far in the Eastern Conference.
However, it seems like teams around the league were sensing that the Bulls were under pressure, and, therefore, were reluctant to offer a lot in exchange for Butler. The Bulls, though, should have done better. Minnesota Timberwolves fans must be ecstatic and ready to see their team finally become a serious playoff team once again.
