Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia receives: Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton.
Jimmy Butler joins The Process, which has reached its championship-window stage. A home run move by the 76ers.
Butler is a bona fide star - a four-time All-Star and one of the best two-way players in the league. Add him to a nucleus of Ben Simmons andย Joel Embiid and you have the most talented Big Three in the East.
Toronto have Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry and... Serge Ibaka? The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. In Boston you've got Kyrie Irving, then pick two of Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford.
It's clear that the Sixers' Big Three trump any others in the East. You have three guys who can score the basketball but are equally talented on the other end of the court. Not many star trios can claim that.
Butler also adds the City of Brotherly Love with a leader they can go to down the stretch. Simmons has been exposed in clutch situations due to his lack of jump shot, while Embiid has been double-teamed and leaned on to make a something-out-of-nothing play, which hasn't worked.
There are a couple of questions that need to be answered. Firstly, how does Butler mesh with Simmons and Embiid? Who takes the most shots, who is the primary ball handler and what position does Simmons play? Where does Markelle Fultz fit into all of this? Considering all of Philly's Big Three are hell bent on winning, you would expect them to make it work and accept whatever role is best for the team.
The only other query Sixers' lack of shooting. It was already one of their weaknesses, and now they have shipped out two of their best strokers. Of course, free agency can resolve that issue, or the Sixers could target a Kyle Korver or Lou Williams type in a trade.
The early reports are that Jimmy Buckets is keen on an extension with Philly, which would really give this move a big tick. Elton Brand has put together a good crew in Philly and one that rival teams will be intimidated by.
Grade:ย A
Minnesota Timberwolvesย
Minnesota receives:ย Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, future second-round pick.
The Timberwolves had to move Butler, he was becoming more and more cancerous to the team. The circus in Minnesota was nothing short of a disaster, and take into consideration that he would have walked for nothing at the end of the year. But this was no panic move byย Tom Thibodeau, this team is going to be fun to watch.
While Robert Covington and Dario Saric are nothing more than great role players, the combo is a profitable return for a guy who badly wanted out. Covington is an elite defender who can make it rain from deep on a modest contract. Saric is a prototype modern big who can shoot and handle the ball and play at the five spot in smaller lineups to stretch opposition defences. The Croatian is also on a cheap deal.
Covington and Saric provide the Wolves with great balance and allow Thibodeau to double down on Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins being the stars in Minnesota.
Even if Wiggins does suck, Minnesota gave him a max contract so now is his opportunity to shine, no more excuses.
While Houston's supposed offer of four first-round picks sounds nice, the Wolves are done with rebuilding and want to become regular players in the postseason. The organisation was reportedly wanting to get Butler out of the West too and they achieved that.
Saric and Covington give them that opportunity for the foreseeable future, or at least something to build off.ย Remember, Butler commanded a trade, and you get two very handy rotation players back. This is a deep, talented squad.
Grade:ย B
