Menu
Franchises

Butler Acquisition Seen As Transformative Move For T'Wolves; Bulls Appear To Begin Rebuild

T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations and coach Tom Thibodeau "made what may be the biggest splash" in franchise history Thursday night by acquiring Bulls F Jimmy Butler and the No. 16 pick in the NBA Draft, according to Jace Frederick of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. The T'Wolves then selected Creighton C Justin Patton at No. 16, and the team sent F Zach LaVine, G Kris Dunn and the No. 7 pick, which became Arizona F Lauri Markkanen, to the Bulls in exchange. Butler is one of the league’s "top two-way players and brings a veteran presence to a young team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 13 years." His addition "figures to make free agents this summer pay more attention to Minnesota as a potential destination" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/23). In Minneapolis, Jerry Zgoda notes this trade for the T'Wolves is "just behind the one" that sent F Kevin Garnett to Boston in '07 and "probably even with" the '14 trade that sent away F Kevin Love and brought F Andrew Wiggins (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23). Frederick notes the T'Wolves were "able to land a franchise cornerstone entering his prime to join forces" with Wiggins and C Karl-Anthony Towns, and they were "able to do so without entirely decimating" their young core (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/23).

HERE & NOW: In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes the trade "makes the Wolves instantly better," as well as "relevant and credible." Scoggins: "This trade feels transformative." The NBA will "look at the Wolves differently now," and maybe free agents "will do likewise." A sales pitch of Butler, Wiggins and Towns "should be attractive to free agents looking for a place to win." The T'Wolves "showed they are serious about making a significant leap in their never-ending rebuilding project" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23). The STAR TRIBUNE's Sid Hartman writes the T'Wolves "just made it clear they’re no longer going to settle on potential." The front office "wants to win and win now" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23). 

NEW CHICAGO STYLE: In Chicago, David Haugh notes the Bulls "had to reach a consensus to rebuild the organization, which requires a new foundation and different blueprint." They had to "agree to embark on a long-term project requiring patience for a franchise with an 81-year-old chairman, Jerry Reinsdorf." Bulls Exec VP/Basketball Operations John Paxson said Reinsdorf was "involved every step of the way" throughout the trade. It was time for the Bulls to "start over, time for a risk-averse organization to take a risk." Finally, the Bulls "established an unambiguous plan." Trading Butler for "three NBA up-and-comers represented a leap of faith for two Bulls executives who like to keep their feet on the ground." Paxson and GM Gar Forman "leaped anyway," as they "understood Butler's value never was going to be higher, and perhaps they sensed the appetite for change among Bulls fans was as voracious as ever" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/23). Also in Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes, "This is what rebuilding looks and feels like. It’s exciting, painful and frightening all rolled into one." It is possible this trade could end up "as a disaster, but it was the right thing to do in the moment" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/23). The Chicago DAILY HERALD's Barry Rozner writes the Bulls "had a good night." There are "precisely no guarantees of success, but where there was once no hope at all, there is reason to be optimistic" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 6/23). 

THINGS DON'T ADD UP: ESPN's Mike Greenberg wondered why the Bulls had to trade Butler if they wanted to "rebuild and reboot." Greenberg: "He's 27, he has a team-friendly contract. ... You get rid of (Rajon) Rondo, you get rid of (Dwyane) Wade if you want to and rebuild around Jimmy Butler." He added, "You didn't get a great player or anyone who could become a great player. You didn't get a bunch of picks. I don't understand it.” But ESPN's Ryen Russillo said, "You always have to understand the NBA math when it comes to stars. When you have a star where things are a little toxic, you just don't get a star back" ("Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 6/23).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 19, 2024

PGA Tour/PIF inching closer? Another NWSL sale for a big return and MLB's Go Ahead Entry expands

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/06/23/Franchises/TWolves.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2017/06/23/Franchises/TWolves.aspx

CLOSE