5 reasons Andrew Wiggins is more valuable than Jimmy Butler
By Tom West
If the Minnesota Timberwolves want to acquire Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, they need to give them Andrew Wiggins. However, Wiggins is clearly the more valuable player and must be kept.
After the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to expend the Finals with a 112-97 Game 5 win in Golden State, some new NBA talk took over basketball Twitter on Tuesday. Rumors have emerged that the Minnesota Timberwolves may be looking to trade their No. 5 pick for a star such as Jimmy Butler, which undoubtedly caught the interest of fans. However, when it later emerged that Andrew Wiggins would have to be involved in the deal, reactions to the idea quickly changed.
Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN reported the Timberwolves’ interest in Butler, stating they’re willing to part with their high lottery pick, too:
"The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to part with the No. 5 overall pick in this month’s draft, as the centerpiece of a trade package, if they can use it to construct a deal for Chicago Bulls star swingman Jimmy Butler, according to league sources. Sources told ESPN.com that the Wolves, in these early days of the Tom Thibodeau era, have made it known to the Bulls that they are strongly interested in dealing for Butler should Chicago elect to make him available."
Their interest in Butler is obvious. He’s a two-time All-Star, he’s made the All-Defensive Second Team for the last three years, and has rapidly improved his offensive game, averaging career-highs in points (20.1) and assists (4.8) per game this season. Not to mention the fact that he has a relationship with new Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau after their time together in Chicago.
As Darren Wolfson reported, though, the Bulls won’t be sending Butler to Minnesota unless Wiggins is involved in the deal.
Good work from Marc. Word is Bulls won't do if AW not involved. If wanted to move JB, bet Bos. would give up No. 3. https://t.co/YBBxwCi8Es
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 14, 2016
There are many reasons why the Timberwolves shouldn’t break up their thrilling young core by shipping Wiggins to Chicago, so let’s get straight to it and make the argument as to why his potential should stay in Minnesota.
Next: Wiggins is still younger than Butler was as a rookie