MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 13: Newly acquired players Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jerryd Bayless are introduced by Tom Thibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves introductory press conference on November 13, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
After a dramatic frenzy that included the Minnesota Timberwolves’ trading Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers, we now have time to look back at potential past deal for Butler and see how they would’ve fared on this roster.
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ traded Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to the Philadelphia 76ers for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second round pick.
After winning two games in a row since Butler’s departure that included the Covington and Saric debut win last night against the New Orleans Pelicans 107-100, we can only assume that Minnesota is trending upwards and the deal was a positive one.
By the way, Jimmy Butler scored 14 points in their horrendous 111-106 loss to the Orlando Magic, so the deal even looks better – in the meantime (we understand Butler is a 4-time All-Star who will help Philly in the playoffs).
However, it’s since been reported that their were three deals on the table for Butler’s talents, which doesn’t include the Washington Wizards, who were unwilling to give up All-Star Bradley Beal in return for Butler’s talents (Minny wanted a talented guard/wing in all of these deals).
CBS Sports reports some of the potential deals below:
“We knew about the Wolves’ talks with the Heat, and also the reported offer of multiple first-round picks from the Rockets. But according to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Wolves also had “extensive discussions” with the Pelicans and talked to the Wizards. Each of those two teams was reluctant to give up a key guard though, so the talks fell apart.
Minnesota desperately tried to cobble together trade offers in the past week, including extensive discussions with New Orleans, league sources said. The Pelicans are limited on tradeable assets, but desperate to find star power to keep Anthony Davis for the long run. The Pelicans wouldn’t include point guard Jrue Holiday in its offer, nor multiple draft picks, league sources said.
Minnesota passed on a Miami deal weeks ago that would’ve included guard Josh Richardson, and the Heat never returned him into talks, sources said. Washington wouldn’t offer guard Bradley Beal, sources said.
Other details on deals that never came to fruition were reported by Shams Charania. The Rockets were looking to move Eric Gordon, Nene and two first-round picks, while the Pelicans’ deal was centered around Nikola Mirotic. Via The Athletic:
Minnesota begins to engage seriously with Philadelphia, New Orleans and Houston. New Orleans’ package is headlined by Nikola Mirotic and an unprotected first-round draft pick and the Rockets’ proposal has Eric Gordon, Nene and two first-round picks, sources said. The 76ers come with their proposal around Robert Covington and Dario Saric, leaving the Timberwolves to deliberate.
We’re looking at three organizations that had their hands in the Jimmy Butler trade frenzy, and those were the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Houston Rockets.
All three of those teams were willing to give up solid starters and future draft picks, all seeming like good deals that could be argued to go either way. When comparing the haul Minnesota got back from Philly, there have been concerns that Minnesota didn’t take the right deal.
I’m here to digress these points for each trade idea, and give a breakdown of how the deal would’ve left Minnesota.
The first team to start with will be the Houston Rockets.