3 trade ideas to spice up the NBA’s opening week

The Timberwolves need to end the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler sooner rather than later. It is understandable that they want to win games this season and return to the playoffs. But they just gave a huge extension to Karl-Anthony Towns, and in the first game of the season, Towns had six field goal attempts in 22 minutes. While he was in foul trouble throughout the game, there is no good reason for a player with his skill set to have less than double-digit field goal attempts in a game where they lost by four points.

The Nets lost their opener as well, falling 103-100 to the Detroit Pistons on the road, but they looked like a team on an upward trajectory. Caris LeVert played well as the lead ballhandler for the Nets, finishing with 27 points and four assists, while routinely showing an ability to break down the defense with his quickness and size. The Nets off-ball players had a rough night shooting, but with Allen Crabbe set to return soon from an injury, they’ll be a potent perimeter shooting team with both their starters and reserves.

The Nets are finally in a position to start building their team with their own draft picks and could be hesitant to part with any picks in a trade for Butler. But the point of draft picks is to get a player like Butler — if he wants to play there, they should go get him. Constructing a team around Butler, D’Angelo Russell, and Allen is a nice core. They’ve shown the ability to make smart choices, and with the potential for five more years of Butler, they have time to build a contender with a clear identity.

For Minnesota, they are able to rid themselves of Patton, who has suffered two foot injuries since being drafted, and Butler, who has been vocal on his displeasure with the franchise. They get an expiring contract in Carroll, two young international prospects in Musa and Kurucs, and a first-round pick to supplement their own in the upcoming draft. The Timberwolves don’t need another lottery pick to rebuild — they already have two former No. 1 picks in Wiggins and Towns. They’re at the point now where they need affordable talent and depth around those two players, to help them reach their ceiling. The opportunity to add four young pieces in two years is one they shouldn’t pass up, and if Tom Thibodeau wants to stay employed, he should be open to a trade package like this one.