NBA Trade Rumors: Timberwolves eyeing No. 5 pick for Jimmy Butler swap
The Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly made the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft available in hopes of a trade for Jimmy Butler
If there’s one prevailing narrative going into the 2016 NBA Draft, it’s the fact that no one really knows how the lottery is going to play out. While its assumed that Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram will go with the first two picks in some order, it’s viewed as a crap shoot after that in the lottery. The Minnesota Timberwolves are only adding to that with their latest plans.
The Minnesota Timberwolves own the No. 5 overall pick in the draft and have their pick from a slew of great prospects. However, they have their eyes set on turning that into an already established star in the league: Jimmy Butler.
According to a report from Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN, the Timberwolves have made the No. 5 pick available in the hopes of trying to get the Chicago Bulls to bite on a trade that would send Butler to Minnesota:
Story going online now with @chadfordinsider: Wolves making No. 5 overall pick available in hopes of tempting Bulls into Jimmy Butler trade
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 13, 2016
That’s certainly a lofty goal for the Timberwolves, but that’s definitely one way of trying to maximize their assets heading into the 2016 NBA Draft.
In fairness, the move would make a ton of sense for the Timberwolves. They’re a team that has a young core already establishing itself as a defensive monster and Butler would only add to that while also giving their offense a needed and new dimension.
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