Jimmy Butler Traded to the 76ers
4-Time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler is Now A Philadelphia 76er Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler will now be a Philadelphia 76er. Butler and Justin Patton were traded today for
4-Time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler is Now A Philadelphia 76er
Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler will now be a Philadelphia 76er. Butler and Justin Patton were traded today for Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick.
The Athletic’s Sham Charania first reported the trade. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe confirmed the deal.
The 76ers have been looking for another star to join their dynamic duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The 76ers will most likely aim to sign the 29-year old to a max deal in the 2019 offseason.
Butler is averaging 21.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 10 games this season. Last year Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Timberwolves. He helped lead them to their first NBA Playoff appearance since the 2003-2004 season.
The Timberwolves fell short to the Houston Rockets in five games. Meanwhile, the 76ers made the playoffs last year as the number 3 seed. They defeated the Miami Heat in 5 games but then lost against the Boston Celtics in the next round.
Benefits of Trade
Butler brings toughness, scoring and a much needed veteran presence in a young team. Simmons is a great playmaker and will feed Butler the ball. Simmons also can get to the rim at any time, and rebound very well. The only weakness to his game is his shooting.
Embiid is already an All-Star and one the best centers in the game. He plays hard on both sides of the court and can stretch the defense. Adding Butler will help develop these young player’s mentality and push them to higher levels.
The Timberwolves on the other hand still have good pieces for the future. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 21.5 points and 11.7 rebounds for his career. When Butler came in his numbers dipped, so expect his numbers to rise once again.
Andrew Wiggins will have to pick up his production. People may have forgotten, but in 2016 he averaged 23.6 points a game. Former MVP Derrick Rose has been the comeback story of the league so far. This season he is averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.
Covington will help space the floor and brings defensive intensity to the squad. He currently averages 11.7 points a game and shoots 39% from beyond the arch.
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