CHICAGO – A draft-night trade considered so lopsided by so many just eight months ago doesn't look so much that way here in February.
To be sure, the Timberwolves' acquisition of All-Star Jimmy Butler has, in Tom Thibodeau's estimation, transformed his team's culture. not to mention its record.
The Chicago Bulls, meanwhile, are 18-35 and headed nowhere fast in the East, for now. But all three players they acquired for Butler — former Wolves guards Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn as well as No. 7 overall draft pick Lauri Markkanen — have played well enough when healthy this season to believe the Bulls indeed are headed someplace good, maybe even relatively soon.
If there really is a trade in which both teams win according to their needs and wants, this might be it.
The Wolves have their star and alpha signed through summer 2019 after the Bulls chose to rebuild around coach Fred Hoiberg's modern offensive philosophies that emphasize the three-pointer and traded Butler and his old-school game instead.
The Bulls have done so with three promising lottery picks — none of them older than the 24-year-old Dunn — expected to grow together for the next several years.
"I don't think there's any doubt," Bulls VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson said. "We're really happy. I won't speak for Minnesota, but they've got an All-Star player in Jimmy Butler to go along with their young core. It seems to have addressed the desires for both teams, and if you can do that in this business, that's a good thing."
The two teams play Friday night for the first time since that five-player June trade. Both Butler and Taj Gibson will be recognized for their contributions to the Bulls all those years.