Butler could land with 76ers
Minnesota reportedly will trade its All-Star wing for three players and a second-round pick in 2020.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were caught in the middle of Jimmy Butler’s unending “soap opera,” as one veteran put it in the midst of a 0-5 road trip.
After finally realizing that the drama wasn’t ending any time soon, Minnesota relented and agreed to trade the All-Star wing to Philadelphia, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The deal will send Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless and a 2020 second-round pick to Minnesota. Philadelphia, which plans on signing Butler to a long-term deal this summer, also gets injury-plagued former first-round pick Justin Patton.
Butler, 29, is one of the few two-way stars in the league, a scorer who has averaged at least 20 points in each of the four previous seasons and can also put his chest into and defend the other top wings in the NBA. The 6-foot-6 wing has been NBA all-defensive second team four times and All-NBA third team the last two seasons.
He leaves Minnesota in rough shape — after barely reaching the playoffs last season, the Timberwolves are4-9 after being mired in the muck of Butler’s offseason trade request. In his wake, Karl-Anthony Towns will become the clear leader with hopes that Andrew Wiggins can continue to develop — something that seemed to get stuck in pause alongside Butler, who has played heavy minutes while appearing in more than 70 games only twice in his previous seven seasons.
The deal brings Minnesota two quality starters in Saric, a 6-10 power forward, and Covington, a 6-9 small forward. Saric is an intriguing piece for its lineup. The thirdyear pro from Croatia has career averages of 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 35% from three-point range. Covington, a sixth-year pro, has career averages of 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds, and 36% shooting from long range.
But the bigger effect is on the 76ers, who have gone all-in to compete in the Eastern Conference by trading for someone who has now been dealt two times in three seasons. Butler will have to disprove the not-sosubtle whispers about being a negative influence on a team that’s dealing with its own issues — differing personalities in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons along with Markelle Fultz’s shooting struggles.
Though it’s early in the season, it’s clear that the LeBron James-less East is loaded at the top with Toronto, Boston and Milwaukee.
Before Saturday, some rival executives had wondered if Philadelphia had fallen out of that mix. “It feels like something is missing,” one said. The 76ers are betting they found it in Butler.
Siakam shining
A reason Philadelphia probably felt compelled to deal for Butler is the strong starts by teams at the top of the East, and no one has looked better than Toronto.
Third-year forward Pascal Siakam, an early favorite to become the league’s most improved player, has been a surprise for the Raptors. A testament to the Raptors’ scouting and development, which has been as good as anyone’s the last few years, Siakam had his playing time disappear after being a first-round pick, spending time in the G League. Now, he’s a starter, a key player who can grab rebounds, lead a fastbreak and score around the rim.
“It’s humbling,” he told The Times. “For me, I got here, started the first 30 games and didn’t play for the rest of the year. I went to the G League. I wasn’t really on the team. Going through that, it can be hard for sure. But I think when you understand the purpose, knowing what you’re in for and your potential, everything else is easy.”
Tip-ins
It wasn’t a surprise to see Tyson Chandler close out in his first game with the Lakers, and watching him tap key offensive rebounds to teammates was less shocking. … One player to watch in the aftermath of the Butler trade: Wiggins. The former No. 1 overall pick was asked what he has to do to take his game to the next level in the modern NBA. “I don’t know,” he solemnly said. “I’ve got to figure it out.” … Speaking of former No. 1 overall picks, Anthony Bennett, the top pick in 2013, is playing for the Clippers’ G League team in Ontario.