I plucked the sections from this piece that apply to the Wolves and posted them below, but you can read the full article using the link below if you care about this trade from Philadelphia's perspective.
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Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem
Kirk Goldsberry | ESPN Staff Writer | Monday, November 12 at 7:29 AM CT
Saric and Covington aren't stars like Butler, but they fit nicely next to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Today's best NBA offenses pair creators with stretchy, off-ball sharpshooters. Simmons is the kind of youthful on-ball maestro most teams crave, yet Philly just sent Minnesota a big chunk of its spacing for another ball-hungry dribbling machine. It's akin to a car trading its two rear tires for a second steering wheel.
This doesn't add up, at least not yet. Butler, Simmons and Embiid form an impressive core, but one in desperate need of perimeter help. Simmons can't shoot. Butler and Embiid offer limited 3-point offense. Philly ranks 16th in the NBA in effective field goal percentage (eFG%), and it's hard to see how that will rise with Butler in the mix. Both Saric (.541) and Covington (.534) put up bigger numbers in this key metric than Butler (.512) did last year. (Saric's shooting is way down this season, but Second Spectrum data shows his eFG% is 10 percent worse than expected given the quality of his looks. He's bound to bounce back.)
Saric and Covington both have the kinds of healthy shot diets that make efficiency easy. Just look at this beautiful signature:
And this one:
These two "Process" babies not only provided space for Embiid and Simmons to work, they've also combined to launch over 11 3s per game this year and represented 34.1 percent of Philly's total 3-point volume. Both players take over half of their shots from beyond the arc.
During the Sixers' 16-game win streak to close last season, the team posted the NBA's third-best offense with a 55.6 eFG% and 33.3 3-point attempts per game. Saric and Covington combined for more than a third of those attempts, converting 38.1 percent. Without them, Philly's spacing will suffer. It's going to be nearly impossible to develop a catch-and-shoot machine that elevates this struggling group without more moves.
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ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
- memyworld
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- kilkenny
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Re: ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
LOL. Thibs will put an end to those shot charts. Long 2's all the way now.
- memyworld
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Re: ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
Interesting. I also remember reading this weekend that they'll have to renounce Redick this summer if they want to re-sign Butler and sign a 2nd max player. Redick is obviously their only other significant outside shooting threat.
2020 All Time NBA Draft
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A Iverson, K Irving
J Havlicek, M Ginobili, M Richmond
D Wilkins, B Bowen
T Duncan, B McAdoo
H Olajuwon, W Unseld, A Sabonis
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Re: ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
As I said right after the deal. Great deal for Philly except on the court right now. Said they will be in on every shooter that hits the market and they are already linked to Korver. I give it a week and they will be calling us again about Tolliver. Taylor will trade him and Okogie and get back a betamax and 2 future pet rocks.
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- t_wrex
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Re: ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
Theyre probably not done dealing.
Simmons and butlers perimeter defense can take on the top 2 scorers from outside and mask Reddick's horrible defense. They do need a 3 and D type at the 4 tho.
Tolliver for Muscala?
Simmons and butlers perimeter defense can take on the top 2 scorers from outside and mask Reddick's horrible defense. They do need a 3 and D type at the 4 tho.
Tolliver for Muscala?
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- memyworld
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Re: ESPN | Why Jimmy Butler may not solve Philly's biggest problem (Wolves Assets Only)
Depending how things go through Christmas, they'll probably wait until players get bought out. It worked for them last year.
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