By SAMEER KUMAR
WINNERS
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Acquired: Jimmy Butler, Justin Patton (16th pick)
Lost: Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen (7th pick)
The Timberwolves acquired a superstar player in forward Jimmy Butler and the 16th pick while just giving up guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn and the rights to the 7th pick. The Wolves later drafted Creighton center Justin Patton with the 16th pick, and the Bulls drafted Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen with the 7th pick.
Butler is a good fit with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, as he’ll take a lot of the defensive pressure off of both players and give Minnesota another go-to scorer.
Patton needs to polish his offensive game and add strength, but brings promise.
We could look at this trade in a few years and see the Wolves become the team that ultimately takes down the evil empire that is the Golden State Warriors.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
Acquired: Markelle Fultz (1st pick), Anzejs Pasecniks (25th pick), Jonah Bolden (36th pick), Mathias Lessort (50th pick)
The Sixers needed a point guard who can mesh well with Ben Simmons, and they got just that in Markelle Fultz. Philly got themselves a point guard with great playmaking and shooting skills. A core of Fultz, Simmons, Joel Embiid (assuming he stays healthy) and Dario Saric will be exciting for years to come.
Pasecniks has the tools to be a good shooting big in the NBA, but his game still needs polish.
Now Sixers’ fans can really start to see “The Process” unfold in the City of Brotherly Love.
BROOKLYN NETS
Acquired: D’Angelo Russell, Timofey Mozgov, Jarrett Allen (22nd pick), Aleksandar Vezekov (57th pick)
Lost: Brook Lopez, Kyle Kuzma (27th pick)
Lacking top draft picks because of the 2013 trade between the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics that netted (no pun intended) them Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, Sean Marks and company needed to get creative to get young talent on their roster.
The Nets knew that D’Angelo Russell was available, so they quickly pounced and got themselves their player of the future; even if it meant eating Timofey Mozgov‘s big contract. Russell plays a fast-paced style of basketball, and with Brooklyn ranking second in pace this past season, the pairing seems to be a hand-in-glove fit.
Maturity is supposedly a problem for the former Ohio State Buckeye, but being out of Los Angeles and in an organization that’s committed to a rebuild will be great for Russell’s development; especially when considering that Russell is still just 21 years old.
Jarrett Allen also was not supposed to fall this far. Allen doesn’t have a 3-point shot in his arsenal, but he brings the ability to guard the pick-and-roll as well as shot blocking, and the ability to run the floor. If his offensive game matures, then the Nets will have themselves a steal.
It will be tough to lose Brook Lopez, as he is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, but this is a move the Nets needed to make.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has a knack for working with players and dramatically improving their games. Atkinson reminds me of Coach Carter. He will work with flawed players on a troubled team and turn them into studs, which in turn makes the team better. Assuming Atkinson works his magic, the man known as Dloading will become the superstar player that this franchise desperately needs, and the Brooklyn Nets will become the NBA version of the Richmond high school basketball team.
At this rate, exciting basketball across the Brooklyn Bridge will be back sooner than expected!
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Acquired: Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball (2nd pick), Kyle Kuzma (27th pick), Josh Hart (30th pick), Thomas Bryant (42nd pick)
Lost: D’Angelo Russell, Timofey Mozgov
Drafting Lonzo Ball was inevitable, and LaVar Ball finally got his wish. Ball is a Southern California native, so his comfort level being at home near his family should help. The Lakers added a great play-maker with size who has drawn comparisons to Jason Kidd. In order to be a superstar in this league, however, he’s going to need to improve his shot form as well as his shooting percentages.
The addition of Brook Lopez, even for a year, will help this team. Lopez will run the pick-and-roll very well with Ball, which will create many opportunities in the paint and behind the arc.
Kyle Kuzma was also an under-the-radar get for the Lakers. A big man who is athletic and can shoot is perfect for coach Luke Walton‘s team.
Losing D’Angelo Russell is going to be tough for this team. Russell may not have seen eye-to-eye at times with this organization, but he never really got a fair chance to showcase his potential during his two years in Los Angeles. The only way the Lakers can justify moving him is if they can take advantage of the money freed up by getting rid of Timofey Mozgov’s contract and acquire another superstar.
All eyes are on you, LaVar Ball.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Acquired: De’Aaron Fox (5th pick), Justin Jackson (15th pick), Harry Giles (20th pick), Frank Mason III (34th pick)
Lost: Zach Collins (10th pick)
The Kings and winning haven’t been synonymous lately, but they had themselves one heck of a draft! They found their future point guard in De’Aaron Fox, who is lightning quick and a tenacious defender. One concern is his 3-point shot, but that can be developed. Could very well turn into the best point guard in this draft.
Justin Jackson also has tremendous potential, and is a steal at this pick. He can light it up from downtown, and get to the rim at will. Great scoring potential here.
Harry Giles also has great upside as long as he stays healthy. He would’ve been a lottery pick if he wasn’t plagued with injuries. Many people compare him to a mini Kevin Garnett, which is scary.
Adding these three players to a group that already includes Buddy Hield and Willie Cauley-Stein could be dynamic in years to come. Maybe that DeMarcus Cousins trade wasn’t so bad after all.
LOSERS
CHICAGO BULLS
Acquired: Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen (7th pick)
Lost: Jimmy Butler, Justin Patton (16th pick), Jordan Bell (38th pick)
The Bulls got pennies on the dollar for Jimmy Butler. They could’ve done much better in a deal for Butler given the fact that he’s under contract for three more years.
Zach LaVine is a solid scorer, but won’t be the game-changing player that Chicago is seeking. There’s also concern after he tore his ACL this past season.
Lauri Markkanen isn’t the best value at the seven spot. The Bulls should’ve gone with Malik Monk here who would’ve addressed the shooting problem in Chi-Town.
Kris Dunn had an injury-plagued and ineffective rookie season. He did not show any signs of being an elite point guard. If he doesn’t right the ship, then this will go down as a very bad trade for Chicago.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Acquired: Frank Ntilikina (8th pick), Damyean Dotson (44th pick), Ognjen Jaramaz (58th pick)
Frank Ntilikina could very well turn out to be a great player for the Knicks given his shooting ability, size and playmaking ability. Could also be a great fit in the triangle offense. However, this pick was a reach, as Dennis Smith Jr. and Malik Monk were still on the board. Both players are said to have higher ceilings.
It’s not so much the pick that made the Knicks losers, it’s the way that Phil Jackson has been running the club. He was heavily shopping Kristaps Porzingis, who should be a building block instead of on the trading block. Last thing you need to do is make your franchise player disgruntled.
Ntilikina and Porzingis could make for a great tandem, but the dysfunction surrounding the Knicks organization needs to stop.
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