How will Dario Saric fit with the Timberwolves?

Dario Saric is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler trade, but how will he fit with his new team?

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ internal nightmare is over, as Jimmy Butler will be sent to the Philadelphia 76ers once all physicals are passed. Minnesota is getting Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a second-round pick in 2022 in the deal. That seems like an underwhelming return for those who would have jumped at the Houston Rockets’ reported offer of four first-round picks, but removing the headache Butler had become was a priority.

Covington has become a solid player, and Saric is still just 24 years old. They are the key pieces of the deal, and both will step into prominent roles as the Timberwolves try to turn around a slow start and remain competitive. Covington will be the more direct replacement for Butler, as Minnesota’s new starting small forward, but Saric should eventually supplant Taj Gibson at power forward.

Saric’s numbers are down early this season, as he’s averaging 11.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game through 13 games. But he’s been better recently, averaging 16.7 points per game while converting 50 percent from 3-point range over his final three games with the 76ers, so the Timberwolves may be getting him at a good time.

But how will Saric fit in Minnesota?

After averaging a league-low 22.5 attempts from beyond the arc last season, the Timberwolves are a good amount better volume-wise so far this year (30.2 per game; 19th in the league). The offseason addition of Anthony Tolliver has helped, as he is averaging 3.7 3-point attempts per game while also making 41.7 percent, but Saric is a step up with a career average of 4.7 three-point attempts per game.

Gibson has been a productive player again this season, averaging 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while starting all 13 contests. He’s averaging a reasonable 27.5 minutes per game so far this season, after averaging over 33 minutes per game last year, so even with a move to the bench his role should be stable.

Tolliver is averaging almost 19.5 minutes per game so far, and his role on the floor has been clear with most of his shots (4.2 per game) coming from 3-point range.

Gorgui Dieng was mentioned on the periphery of trade rumors surrounding Butler, as the Timberwolves try to find a team to take on the three years and $48 million left on his contract. He has played in all 13 games for Minnesota this season, but he’s averaging just 13.6 minutes per contest. He’s been the backup center to Karl-Anthony Towns (for what that’s worth) and he could be a useful player, but it’s clear Tom Thibodeau has little use for Dieng.

Saric is not a center by trade, but he’s close in size to Dieng and the former first-round pick’s role may evaporate completely now.

With Saric (and Covington) coming aboard, the Timberwolves’ offense should flow better and expand out to the 3-point line far easier without Butler’s ball dominance. If Thibodeau is willing to stretch his thinking, which he hasn’t been inclined to do, the possible lineup combinations that can be deployed have also been expanded.

Saric may not fully blossom into a star in Minnesota, as he’ll be no better than second fiddle to Towns. But he should fit just fine with the Timberwolves as he gets a fresh start, over the rest of this year under Thibodeau and beyond with all signs pointing toward a new coach being in place.