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Minnesota Timberwolves: Who’s prowling and who’s panting

By James Grieco

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Derrick Rose #25 and head coach Tom Tibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts as Rose is called for a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 131-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Derrick Rose #25 and head coach Tom Tibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts as Rose is called for a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 131-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images /

Prowling: Jimmy Butler (in maybe his final weeks as a Timberwolf)

Jimmy Butler, despite a -5.2 net rating, is still a damn good basketball player. He looked quite rusty in the season opener and was quiet for most of Wednesday’s game in Toronto, but he has been this team’s motor yet again.

His net rating is only negative due to the heavy number of minutes he’s played with the starting lineup, which has collectively gotten torched through five games (Andrew Wiggins is the only starter with a positive net rating).

Butler can still score in bunches:

… and he has been playing efficiently. So far on the season he has shooting splits of .533/.429/.829. He’s averaging 24.8 points per game on just 15 shots per game, while also leading the league in steals with 3.8 per game.

Every game Butler plays shows the rest of the NBA how valuable he is, and that’s why it’s likely he will still be traded sooner rather than later. Right on cue, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that the Houston Rockets had put FOUR(!!!) first round picks on the table to acquire Butler.

The pick protections and details matter, but that is a buffet for the Timberwolves, even if it means not getting P.J. Tucker or Eric Gordon back in the deal. A deal like that sets up this franchise’s future around Towns (assuming he’s okay in the long-run) like it should be.

dark. Next. Week 2 NBA Power Rankings

For that reason, no matter how, umm, “interesting” Jimmy Butler’s time in Minnesota has been, Wolves fans should be rooting for him to head to Houston as soon as possible — even if Watch Stadium‘s Shams Charania says it’s unlikely.

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