Minnesota Timberwolves: 2017 NBA Draft grades
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau has pushed the franchise in the right direction. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a huge splash during the 2017 NBA Draft when they traded the no. 7 pick, Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler and the No. 16 pick in the draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations (and head coach) Tom Thibodeau had his fingerprints all over the 2017 NBA Draft. Thanks to the Jimmy Butler trade that was more of a coup, the franchise took a huge step toward re-establishing a winning culture.
The draft provided flexibility, while the Butler trade brought legitimacy to the franchise's playoff hopes for the upcoming season.
To sort out how the Bulls fared on draft night, here's a look at their 2017 NBA Draft grades.
Mar 22, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Butler trade
Timberwolves get
Thibodeau pulled off his first franchise-changing move on draft night. He was able to acquire Jimmy Butler for Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, and somehow managed to convince Chicago that their trade package was enticing enough to include a swap of draft picks.
This trade was highway robbery, as the pick swap landed Thibs a prospect who many had rated as the No. 1 center.
Butler will give the franchise an air of respectability and an improved defense. One man cannot change a defense, but simply putting Butler on the opposition's best scorer will make things a little easier within the team's defensive concept.
Coming off of All-NBA Third Team selection, he will bring his 23.9 points per game to a team that just had a top-10 offense (as judged by offensive rating). On top of all that, his contract keeps him on the T-Wolves through 2019, giving the franchise ample time to build a contender around his talents.
Grade: A+
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justin Patton (Creighton) is interviewed after being introduced as the number sixteen overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
No. 16 — Justin Patton
In my opinion, Justin Patton at No. 16 was perhaps the best value pick of the draft, outside of Malik Monk to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 11. Patton may not be ready to be part of an NBA rotation yet, but down the line he presents some intriguing upside.
He is already a nuisance for the opposition as a rim-protector. Thibodeau will be able to help Patton hone his athleticism into a team defense concept, which is the only way he will see the floor for now. But he showed off the potential for deep shooting range — 53 percent on a very-limited 15 attempts from the three-point line — and the makings of a post game.
He scored 20.5 points per 40 minutes on a blistering 67.6 percent from the field in his lone year at Creighton. He is an advanced statistics darling who gets high-marks across the board.
Patton will have time to develop in Minnesota. And that is because of the presence of Gorgui Dieng and Karl-Anthony Towns. If Patton stays at his floor, he will be a good rim protector who only scores out of the pick-and-roll. If he reaches his full potential, Patton and Towns would form an extremely unique frontcourt.
Having two seven-footers who can shoot and protect the rim would make Minnesota a matchup nightmare. Ultimately, this was a great pick, and the only reason it didn't get an A is because I believe UCLA's T.J. Leaf would have been a better fit as a traditional stretch-4 next to Towns.
Grade: B+
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