With the Timberwolves‘ season over after their loss to the Rockets in the first round, the focus now turns to the roster and how the organization can build a long-term roster with its current assets. The first man on that agenda is Jimmy Butler, whom the team acquired as part of a draft-day trade last summer.
Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune writes that Butler’s future will be one of the most important Timberwolves storylines to watch this summer. Butler can opt out of his contract and hit the free agent market a year from now. So if the Timberwolves can’t reach an extension with Butler, it’s not out of the question that they’d test the trade market to see what kind of value they could get in lieu of him leaving as a free agent.
Butler seems unlikely to go anywhere, as owner Glen Taylor has indicated that the star forward is a crucial part of the team. Still, keeping him in Minnesota will require some financial maneuvering on the Wolves’ end. Andrew Wiggins‘ max extension is about to take effect, and Karl-Anthony Towns will soon be eligible for a considerable payday of his own.
Check out more notes surrounding the Wolves below:
- In the same story, Taylor spoke about the Timberwolves making their first postseason since 2005. While the result was an early playoff exit, Taylor said that, at least, the team reached its goal of making the postseason.“I thought with the changes we made, the people we brought in, the sacrifices we made in moving some young, potential people, that we needed to be in the playoffs,” Taylor said. “Those were my expectations.”
- Earlier in the week, we wrote about the possibility of Butler, who spent his first six seasons with the Bulls, ending up back in the Windy City if he hits free agency in 2019.
- Chris Hine of the Star Tribune breaks down Minnesota’s offseason and what the team should be focused on as free agency and the draft approach.
Butler doesn’t ring as a long tenured Timberwolf going forward. Wiggins’s best years are ahead of him, I still think he will reach an elite level and put his stamp on the NBA just a matter of time since he is still in that maturing stage and finding his way. Taylor knew what he was doing before giving Wiggins that extension, he knows the kid is going to be special.
If he consistently put out the effort, he would already be great. He needs to focus and play both ends of the court. Make every minute count.
I think Butler being around kind of disrupts his rhythm. I still think he has potential to be a 25-28 ppg scorer in the right situation with an offense revolved around him and Towns. I never understood Jimmy Butler coming to Minnesota, just not a good fit.
Jimmy Butler should not dictate if Andrew Wiggins plays hard, or if he improves defensively. Those are things Andrew Wiggins controls. And at the same time, Wiggins takes the most shots of all of them, so it’s not like he doesn’t have the ball in his hands with those guys around. That team needs to pass more often. Too iso based
Slow down there Dionis on Wiggins being elite. He’s a very nice player, but he’s more Derozan than Durant. After four years he still hasn’t developed a consistent three point stroke, plays a little ole’ defence and really just Scorsese using his athleticism and mid-range game. Sounds just like Demar, doesn’t it.
Now, Demar has been an All-Star, but I don’t think anyone would say elite. Factor in that Demar makes good passes, is a better free throw shooter, and has now fit into two different Raptors offensive schemes, and AW may never even reach his level.
Who ever saw Curry becoming a uninamous MVP? Very few, I’m not one to make quick judgements on a player and believe the kid has the potential to be elite. Hopefully it’s in Minnesota where he develops into that player but Derozan also took a lot of years before he became this good so we’ll see.
They need Wiggins to significantly improve. He needs to get better defensively, and he needs to consistently play harder. They also need a wing shooter, and a wing defender. They should keep Derrick Rose. They seemed to play well with him in a few lineups, including multiple guard lineups. They also need KAT to play with more defensive effort on a consistent basis.
Just putting it out there…
WHAT IF, Wolves trade Butler to Chicago, LaVine to Cleveland and Love to Minnie.
AW, KAT and Love would be a very nice combo.
Bulls then make a play for Kawhi.
Cavs to get Whiteside in. Trade JR and someone like Hood to OKC for Melo. Bron gets a decent scorer at the 2 and 4 positions. Plus one of his Banana boat buddys
Lol wut? Wolves would have worst defense ever.