The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired forward Jimmy Butler and the draft rights to center Justin Patton, the No. 16 selection in this year’s draft from the Chicago Bulls, in exchange for guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn and the draft rights to forward Lauri Markkanen, the No. 7 selection in this year’s draft.
Butler, a 6-7 forward, has played six seasons in the NBA, all with the Bulls. The three-time NBA All-Star (2015, 2016 and 2017) averaged career highs with 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game this past season en route to earning 2016-17 All-NBA Third Team honors.
Butler, 27, owns career averages of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 399 games. The Houston, Texas, native has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times (2014–2016) and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player after the 2014-15 season.
Chicago originally drafted Butler with the 30th overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Marquette University.
Patton, 6-11, played in 35 contests over one season at Creighton, averaging 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game en route to earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors.
In 206 career NBA games, all in a Wolves uniform, LaVine averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 28.9 minutes per contest.
Dunn, originally drafted by the Wolves with the 5th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, averaged 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17.1 minutes per contest in his rookie season with Minnesota.