Would You Trade the #5 Pick and LaVine for Butler?

[Lipoli390]

I wouldn't assume that Zach is working out exclusively with his dad. And I wouldn't assume he's working only on building strength.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm pretty positive that Zach's working on his skills and overall development with basketball trainers. That's not something he can solely rely on his dad for, nor would I expect him to. I absolutely do think he can rely on his dad to help him when it comes to weight training and overall conditioning. That's something that can be learned over time without ever being a professional athlete, and yet his father actually was one for a period of time. It doesn't take long to pick up certain things from NFL strength coaches and trainers on how to successfully and safely build muscle/strength. And judging off Zach's weight gain last summer, I'd say whatever he's been doing has been working. I'm all for Paul's role in his son's progression.

[Lipoli390]

I'm pretty positive that Zach's working on his skills and overall development with basketball trainers. That's not something he can solely rely on his dad for, nor would I expect him to. I absolutely do think he can rely on his dad to help him when it comes to weight training and overall conditioning. That's something that can be learned over time without ever being a professional athlete, and yet his father actually was one for a period of time. It doesn't take long to pick up certain things from NFL strength coaches and trainers on how to successfully and safely build muscle/strength. And judging off Zach's weight gain last summer, I'd say whatever he's been doing has been working. I'm all for Paul's role in his son's progression.

Excellent points! I agree.

[kurrdog53 [enjin:7013678]]

This is an easy NO.

Is Butler a better player now? Yes
Is Butler always going to be a better defender? Maybe
Is Butler going to have a better career than Zach? No way to tell and I would say its 50/50.

Chemistry is HUGE. Zach is a very comfortable 3rd fiddle right now on a team that up and coming. We will add a draft pick that will immediately know their role is to come off the bench and improve slowly and steadily. The places to add are vets that play the 3 or the 4/5. Does that win us a championship? Not sure but Butler doesn't necessarily get us there either.

[Lipoli390]

This is an easy NO.

Is Butler a better player now? Yes
Is Butler always going to be a better defender? Maybe
Is Butler going to have a better career than Zach? No way to tell and I would say its 50/50.

Chemistry is HUGE. Zach is a very comfortable 3rd fiddle right now on a team that up and coming. We will add a draft pick that will immediately know their role is to come off the bench and improve slowly and steadily. The places to add are vets that play the 3 or the 4/5. Does that win us a championship? Not sure but Butler doesn't necessarily get us there either.

Good analysis, Kurrdog. In addition, I keep coming back to the fact that Butler has played more than 67 games in only one of his five seasons. That's a very troubling statistic. And while Butler is clearly the better all-around player now, LaVine is already the much better 3-point shooter on a team in need of 3-point shooting. So I agree it's an easy no.

[AbeVigodaLive]

This is an easy NO.

Is Butler a better player now? Yes
Is Butler always going to be a better defender? Maybe
Is Butler going to have a better career than Zach? No way to tell and I would say its 50/50.

Chemistry is HUGE. Zach is a very comfortable 3rd fiddle right now on a team that up and coming. We will add a draft pick that will immediately know their role is to come off the bench and improve slowly and steadily. The places to add are vets that play the 3 or the 4/5. Does that win us a championship? Not sure but Butler doesn't necessarily get us there either.

While I don't disagree with the chemistry stuff (that's been Q's big problem with the hypothetical trade, too)... let's hope this chemistry between Towns/Wiggins/LaVine stays as each guy searches for his place and money in the league.

As for the other stuff... for LaVine to go from one of the worst defenders in the league as a rookie to a 3-time (and counting) All Defensive player shouldn't just be a "maybe"... maybe "miracle" fits better?

[Lipoli390]

Abe --

You're right that chemistry can go sour as players get caught up in money and status. My sense is that won't be a problem for our core three, but you never know.

I agree it's unlikely Zach becomes an all-defensive player. But I'll defer to Flip's view that Zach can become a good defender or at least average.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Abe --

You're right that chemistry can go sour as players get caught up in money and status. My sense is that won't be a problem for our core three, but you never know.

I agree it's unlikely Zach becomes an all-defensive player. But I'll defer to Flip's view that Zach can become a good defender or at least average.

Sure. But I wouldn't have commented at all if that's what kurrdog wrote. He said LaVine might be better... and that's way too much of a leap of logic or expectations to go unnoticed.