Minnesota Timberwolves: October 2018 player grades

Minnesota Timberwolves: October player grades

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 05: Jimmy Butler #23, Andrew Wiggins #22, Karl-Anthony Townsand and Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

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(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Jimmy Butler

6 GP, 33.7 MPG, 22.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, 3.0 APG

Despite his -5.6 net rating, Butler has been his typical two-way force this season. He’s leading the NBA in steals with three per contest and has posted the best effective field goal percentage of his career through six games at 57.1 percent. He single-handedly torched the Lakers with five made 3s in the fourth quarter on Monday, issuing a loud and clear statement on his overall value (thus, it was only appropriate that he sit out the next game to let the message linger).

Butler is also leading the Timberwolves in minutes with 33.7 minutes per game (good for 32nd in the NBA) even though he didn’t play one second in preseason. While the Wolves’ opening day starting lineup of Butler-Towns-Andrew Wiggins–Jeff Teague–Taj Gibson has a -13.3 net rating through 38 minutes, Butler has wrecked havoc leading the Wolves’ bench unit.

Thibodeau has been staggering Butler and Towns’ minutes, often pulling Butler around the four- or five-minute mark in the first and third quarters. This has allowed Butler to play significant minutes with Derrick Rose, Gorgui Dieng, Anthony Tolliver and Tyus Jones — a lineup that has a +14.4 net rating in 42 minutes.

If the grade were on his play alone, it would be higher. However, factoring in off-court shenanigans and the destructive mental presence he’s had on this team, he only gets a B-.

Grade: B-

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