I think that your thoughts are the consensus around the league. But there wasn't anything else out there. Reports here were than Boston wasn't going to give up the #3 pick and anything else next year so there wasn't a fit. Phoenix apparently balked on trade talks when it appeared they were going to get Jackson at #4.
So the Bulls got two young players that could be busts or that could develop (who knows at this point) plus a 7 footer who can shoot. Lavine is a good shooter as well so Bulls get two guys who can shoot for a team that shot 28% from 3 last season. They also get a lot more athletic. They also get bad and that ensures at Top 7 pick at least next year. The rebuild is on...
Jimmy is in a much better situation. Minnesota was able to trade Ricky Rubio for a 2018 first-round pick. Then upgrade the PG position by signing Jeff Teague in free agency. They are a finalist to sign Paul Millsap. A potential lineup of 1-Teague, 2-Butler, 3-Wiggins, 4-Millsap and 5-Anthony-Towns would certainly look like a top 4 seed in a tough western conference.
https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/1/15...er-jeff-teague
Just an update on this. Millsap signed with Denver, but Minnesota signed Taj Gibson, which was a sneaky good signing. Taj really excelled under Thibs.
I've been surprised to see Minnesota fans down on the Rubio for Teague trade off. Many feel that is a downgrade. I'm not sure I agree.
1 Teague, 2 Butler, 3 Wiggins, 4 Gibson, 5 Towns sure looks like a top 4 seed in the West, as you say. But you also have to watch carefully what OKC is doing. Westbrook and George is an explosive combo. They're trying to make moves to sign Rudy Gay also and make him a stretch 4. Then you've got the Rockets getting Chris Paul and PJ Tucker to pair with Harden and others, and supposedly they are looking at trading for Carmelo Anthony.
If I'm Gordon Hayward, Boston or Miami have to look like pretty attractive options. Aside from LeBron and Giannis, who are the slam dunk starting All-Stars in the near future in the Eastern Conference? He'd basically be battling Demar Derozan for starting 2G in the All-Star game.
Teague is definitely an upgrade over Rubio. Rubio is the flashy assist guy, but he can't really shoot. And you are right that Gibson is a good signing. They are setting themselves up for a nice little run. If Wiggins gets a little more efficient they could make things interesting. Not at the GSW level obviously but who knows?
I don't know about that. Rubio is a better defender than Teague. Teague is a better offensive player. Rubio the better passer. Ultimately, I think it's probably a net positive but I don't think it is a slam dunk.
It's definitely an exciting lineup. Adding Butler and Gibson immediately gives this team legit gravitas in a tough West.
Agree that Gibson is a nice, underrated signing for Minnesota. Millsap signing with Denver means another Eastern Conference team got weaker. Paul George, Jimmy Butler and now Paul Millsap going from the East to West. Bucks could be a top 4 seed in the East at this rate.
Gordon Hayward to Boston. Nice addition for the Celtics.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/go...ee-agency-nba/