Minnesota Sports Forum

lipoli390 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:These aren't NFL running backs. Careers aren't over at 30. That's still inside the typical prime years range. LeBron just had his best year ever at 32. We have two top 15 players now. That's how you start to build a contender. On paper we aren't better than the Warriors or Spurs, but things happen. Kawhi goes down with an ankle. Durant's foot issue could become a problem at any time. It takes breaks to win a title. The last three titles have come with huge injury breaks. We could end up on the short end of that stick or the long end.

Yes, careers aren't over at age 30. But Butler's contract is. That's my concern. And if he sees a better championship opportunity elsewhere as he begins the stretch run of his career, he may be inclined to bolt.

Definitely a risk.

But are we certain LaVine was going to be in MN beyond next season? Would many want Dunn here beyond next season?

lipoli390 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:These aren't NFL running backs. Careers aren't over at 30. That's still inside the typical prime years range. LeBron just had his best year ever at 32. We have two top 15 players now. That's how you start to build a contender. On paper we aren't better than the Warriors or Spurs, but things happen. Kawhi goes down with an ankle. Durant's foot issue could become a problem at any time. It takes breaks to win a title. The last three titles have come with huge injury breaks. We could end up on the short end of that stick or the long end.

Yes, careers aren't over at age 30. But Butler's contract is. That's my concern. And if he sees a better championship opportunity elsewhere as he begins the stretch run of his career, he may be inclined to bolt.

I don't know in two years what contending team is gonna be able to open up 30+ million in cap space to sign him. And if he leaves that means something is wrong with Towns and Wiggins and we're toast anyway so it'd be better to blow it up again anyway.

The real question is where this ranks in all time Twolves days? On par with drafting Garnett? I am still a bit in shock. Thibs had an effect here and we get a guy who loves the way he grinds. So much for Thibs alienating his former players. Go Wolves!!!

So thibs took a season to evaluate the roster and thibs knows both players. Need to trust he is doing whats best. He was able to see our guys weaknesses and development. Its pretty rare the team that gets the best player in the deal loses. We got to be a destination for free agents with the roster now. If we sign a chris paul you have to think we are right there with golden state.

I think we could have signed LaVine to a 4-year deal comparable to Dieng's. Dunn was locked up for 4 more years in his rookie deal. I'd prefer having the upsides of LaVine, Dunn and Zach Collins set for 4+ years over Butler guaranteed for only 2 years and Patton.

On the other hand, Butler makes significant improvement next season more certain and that helps shore up our chances of extending KAT the following season. And as others have pointed out, Butler's arrival could enhance our chances of signing quality free agents. So this isn't all bad from my perspective. But I would have preferred keeping LaVine, Dunn and the pick.

lipoli390 wrote:I think we could have signed LaVine to a 4-year deal comparable to Dieng's. Dunn was locked up for 4 more years in his rookie deal. I'd prefer having the upsides of LaVine, Dunn and Zach Collins set for 4+ years over Butler guaranteed for only 2 years and Patton.

On the other hand, Butler makes significant improvement next season more certain and that helps shore up our chances of extending KAT the following season. And as others have pointed out, Butler's arrival could enhance our chances of signing quality free agents. So this isn't all bad from my perspective. But I would have preferred keeping LaVine, Dunn and the pick.

I don't see the Wolves getting Lavine for anywhere near that cheap.

lipoli390 wrote:I think we could have signed LaVine to a 4-year deal comparable to Dieng's. Dunn was locked up for 4 more years in his rookie deal. I'd prefer having the upsides of LaVine, Dunn and Zach Collins set for 4+ years over Butler guaranteed for only 2 years and Patton.

On the other hand, Butler makes significant improvement next season more certain and that helps shore up our chances of extending KAT the following season. And as others have pointed out, Butler's arrival could enhance our chances of signing quality free agents. So this isn't all bad from my perspective. But I would have preferred keeping LaVine, Dunn and the pick.

That's the thing though, I think Zach would get the max from a team no matter what. I mean KCP and Porter are both projected as max players this offseason so I would expect zach would be also.

The more I think about this trade the more I actually like it... (naturally)

- 2016-17 Real +/- Butler 7th in NBA, Lavine 388th in NBA
- Lavine 1 year left until he gets big pay bump. Especially coming off ACL tear and being a 1 way player (albeit a very good shooter). Butler multiple years left on a very reasonable deal before getting a big pay bump
- Butler the best player in the deal (which usually ends up what causes a team to win a deal)
- Butler knows Thibs' system, probably better than Lavine or Dunn
- Butler automatically will take the opponents best scorer on defense, which automatically will make Wiggins a better defender and a trickle down effect
- Injects more toughness into the club
- Not worried about Butler extending. Unless the team falls flat, he seems to be as safe of a star as we could have traded for
- Wolves automatically a more attractive FA destination, especially for a 3 and D guy
- We finally can go into a year expecting to make the playoffs, rather than hoping our young guys have all matured enough.

Everyone and their dog at the national and Chicago level are saying the Wolves fleeced the Bulls on this one. With that said, assuming Zach comes back healthy from his ACL, I think most people nationally are discounting his improvements too much.

Definitely looking at a fun year ahead.

I agree with everyone that said Lavine would get the max. That always made me nervous.

Now, of course, we really need to get a shooter or two in FA pretty bad.

thedoper wrote:The real question is where this ranks in all time Twolves days? On par with drafting Garnett? I am still a bit in shock. Thibs had an effect here and we get a guy who loves the way he grinds. So much for Thibs alienating his former players. Go Wolves!!!

Trading for Butler is one thing, but him resigning with us when he has options is quite another. We know Thibs likes Butler, but we have no idea how Butler feels about playing for Thibs again. Didn't he say he wanted to stay in Chicago? I hope the chemistry between KAT and Butler is good, but I am at least a tad worried that they could butt heads. KAT is easygoing but I think he seems to want to be the team leader and Wiggins is fine with that, but Butler may want to be the alpha too. Hhttp://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/bulls-jimmy-butler-derrick-rose-locker-room-tension-trade-rumors-122815ere was an article that mentioned there being a rift between Butler and Rose and perhaps other teammates.