Minnesota Timberwolves: 5 goals for Jimmy Butler in 2017-18

The Minnesota Timberwolves brought in Jimmy Butler to transform the team from a young, talented roster into one capable of thriving in the rugged Western Conference. Here are five goals for his 2017-18 season.

All the Minnesota Timberwolves needed was one move, adding Jimmy Butler in a trade this summer, to shift from a promising upstart into a future championship contender.

The Timberwolves sent a trio of lottery picks — Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen — to Chicago in exchange for Butler, a player heavily involved in trade rumors for the past few years.

The Bulls sent out their leading scorer in each of the past three seasons on draft night, signifying a lengthy rebuilding process in Chicago, while the Timberwolves landed a Butler, a player overly familiar with coach Tom Thibodeau’s system.

Butler was selected by Thibodeau with the 30th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft and transformed himself from an afterthought in the draft class into an elite performer. The 27-year-old was named to the All-NBA Third Team last season after posting averages of 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

The vast array of talents Butler brings to the Timberwolves is expected to perfectly complement the games of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, a pair players selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Minnesota anticipates Butler becoming the linchpin to not only snap a 13-year playoff drought, the longest active absence in the league, but transform the franchise into a legitimate championship contender. Here are five goals for Butler in the upcoming season.