The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers should take advantage of Timberwolves dysfunction

By Lucas Johnson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 12: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 12, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 12: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during game against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 12, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers might have one more shot at gaining a star this offseason with the waves of dysfunction emanating from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All hope might not be lost for the Philadelphia 76ers and their quest for a star caliber player this offseason. Jon Krawczynski of the Athletic, reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Jimmy Butler plans to talk about his long-term future with head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau, as well as with general manger Scott Layden, this upcoming Monday.

This meeting may not go well for the Timberwolves, seeing as Butler hasn’t had a strong relationship with Minnesota’s young start Karl-Anthony Towns. Because Butler has a player option on his contract for the summer of 2019, the T-Wolves may have added incentive to trade him if this meeting doesn’t go well and believe he won’t re-sign with the club next summer.

That’s where the Sixers come into play. In the past, Harrison Grimm of The Sixer Sense wrote about how Philadelphia could go about gaining the services of Butler after he turned down the  contract extension earlier this offseason.

Grimm even offered a possible trade scenario to acquire the two-way star. While trading Robert Covington and the unprotected 2021 first round pick via the Miami Heat for Butler is a very good start, it’s unlikely that Minny bites on a deal surrounding just those two pieces. The 76ers would have to add something extra to sweeten any possible deal.

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Adding Zhaire Smith may be not the piece that Sixers fans would want to see in a trade for a player that could opt out of his contract after this upcoming season, but Smith’s defensive potential might be the player that would make Minnesota pull the trigger on a Butler trade. However, the 76ers should only make this hypothetical trade offer if they can get some sort of guarantee that Butler would stay with the franchise past this upcoming season. Giving up Smith for a one year rental would be foolish.

Obviously adding the four time NBA All-Defense second team player, with additional accolades to Philadelphia’s defense, would make the club one of the best defensive teams in the league. Butler’s ability to score the ball, along with his defense, would instantly make Philly a title contender.

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If the conversation in Butler’s meeting with T-Wolves manager goes south, then the Philadelphia 76ers should somehow gauge Butler’s interest in joining the franchise long term. If Butler is interested being a part of the 76ers beyond this upcoming season, then trading Covington, Smith, and the Heat’s unprotected future first round pick would be fair compensation for the star two-way player.