Draft night was a good one for Wolves fans, as the team finalized a deal to bring 3-time All-Star Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. The Wolves sent Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the #7 overall pick to Chicago in exchange for Butler, and the #16 overall pick, which they used on Creighton’s Justin Patton. Butler was one of the best players in the league last season, and the Wolves now have a formidable “Big 3” of Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins. Expectations are very high for the upcoming season, as the Wolves look to end a 13-year playoff drought, but there is still work to be done. So, what do the Wolves need to do in order to finally get back to the playoffs? Here are a couple of things.
First of all, the Wolves could usstarting caliberiber Power Forward. Gorgui Dieng is a fine role player, but Minnesota could definitely upgrade at the position, and let Dieng help out the Wolves’ thin bench. Paul Millsap is probably the biggest acquisition the Wolves could make, but Millsap just opted out of the last year of his contract with Atlanta, which would have earned him $21M, meaning the Wolves’ $19M of cap space probably won’t be enough to get Millsap, and even if it is, this would leave the Wolves without much of a bench. JaMychal Green and Serge Ibaka would both be solid options as well, while being a bit cheaper than Millsap. A starting 5 of Rubio-Wiggins-Butler-Green/Ibaka-Towns is likely a playoff team, while Dieng would really help out the bench. Wolves fans would be ecstatic if Tom Thibodeau is able to lure either player to the Twin Cities.
Another thing the Wolves need to do, which was mentioned above, is add to their bench. The Wolves’ second unit was one of the worst in the league last season, and lost them more games than a bench should. If Minnesota can improve the bench, playoffs look like a near certainty this year, but that’s easier said than done. Assuming the Wolves don’t sign a starting Power Forward and Dieng remain a starter, the Wolves could use another forward on the bench. Joe Ingles is a guy who would be an affordable option, while still being somebody who could give the Wolves some solid minutes off the bench. Former Celtic Kelly Olynyk would likely be a slightly more expensive option, but would also be a better bench piece. The Wolves could also use a backup Point Guard, and George Hill and Patty Mills are 2 interesting, yet still affordable, options there. Hill and Mills would also provide more shooting, which the Wolves could really use after the departure of LaVine. It will be interesting to see how Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden go about addressing the bench. The Wolves could could also use more shooting with the departure of LaVine, and guys like J.J. Redick, Kyle Korver, and Danilo Gallinari could really add another dimension to the Wolves with their shooting abilities. They may be getting older, but would be affordable, and worth it for the Wolves to take a chance on.
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- Chicago Bulls
- Jimmy Butler
