Minnesota Timberwolves Deal All-Star Jimmy Butler To The Philadelphia 76ers

The Jimmy Butler-drama in Minnesota is officially over. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to trade Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a second-round pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton. This transaction arrives on the heels of continued issues brewing between Butler, the Timberwolves’ organization and some of its players.

Butler is a free agent after the season, and the key to the deal is that the Sixers plan to sign him to a long-term contract.

Jimmy Butler and the Sixers fully expect to reach a deal on a long-term contract this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Sixers made deal with plans to add Butler to a Big Three with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018

With LeBron gone in the Eastern Conference, this move could help propel the Sixers over the Celtics and Raptors as the team to beat.