How nine teams are navigating their biggest chemistry questions
The Lakers are starting to find calm within the chaos, while the Sixers and Wolves have brand-new concerns. Who's acing and who's failing their chemistry exams?
2019 ScheduleAll times ET
2019 Schedule
5-9, 5th in Northwest
Trade demands: What Butler and Kawhi are showing the NBA
Why would an NBA superstar give up $70 million to switch teams? And how will Jimmy Butler help the Sixers?
Malika Andrews ESPN
Jarryd Bayless had some thoughtful insight on what it feels like to be traded mid-season: "I think just the transition is the hardest part. I know this is the first time they've been through this. Taking your life and uprooting your life in an hour is difficult. For me, I've been through it so I kind of knew the things that were going to come with that. For younger guys, I think that's the toughest part – trying to figure out that whole thing with clothes and your car and just getting your life back in order. As far as the basketball, I know they'll get up to speed and I'll get up to speed quickly. And just try to get everything else back into a cohesive unit."
Malika Andrews ESPN
Robert Covington said Karl-Anthony Towns has gifted his new teammates with the most important item for a new Minnesota resident: hefty coats. They were waiting in their hotel rooms.
Simmons, Embiid excited for Butler's arrival (1:00)
Towns goes for 25 points, 21 boards in Wolves' win (1:23)
Towns, Teague lead Wolves over Nets after LeVert injury
Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and a season-high 21 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-113 on Monday after finally trading Jimmy Butler.
Rose hits dagger step-back jumper (0:18)
Rose finds Gibson for big finish (0:17)
Thibodeau: 'Almost every team' called about Butler trade (0:54)
Towns throws down thunderous putback (0:18)
Towns bullies Dinwiddie for bucket (0:15)
Teague double-clutches for and-1 (0:20)
Rose steals and scores (0:25)
Thibodeau insists Butler deal met Wolves' targets
In his first comments since trading Jimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves coach and president Tom Thibodeau was surgical in describing the deal that sent the All-Star guard to Philadelphia.
Malika Andrews ESPN
"It's rare when you have the opportunity to get a top 10 player," Thibodeau said of acquiring Butler. "We knew there was risk involved with it. We saw the impact that he had last year — and it was important — and then we went to the next step."
Malika Andrews ESPN
Tom Thibodeau addresses the Jimmy Butler trade for the first time.
How will Butler's departure affect KAT, Wiggins? (1:56)
It's done: Butler trade to Philly completed
All-Star forward Jimmy Butler is now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers after the team and the Minnesota Timberwolves received approval from the league office Monday on the terms of the trade that was agreed to over the weekend.
Towns praises Butler: 'He's one hell of a player'
In the wake of Jimmy Butler's impending trade from Minnesota to Philadelphia, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns and forward Andrew Wiggins had only praise for their departing teammate.
Woj: Inside the final days of the Butler saga, and why it could cost Thibs his job
As the Wolves sort through what's left after one of the most embarrassing episodes in franchise history, another major move could be on the horizon in Minnesota.
Tim MacMahon ESPN Staff Writer
Joel Embiid has yet to talk to Jimmy Butler since the trade was made -- he plans to text his new teammate tonight -- but the 76ers big man did talk to Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. "They thought that he was going to be good for us," Embiid told ESPN. "They thought that we were definitely going to get along. He wants to win. Wiggs told me that he thought that we were going to win the East for sure."
FiveThirtyEight: How Good Is The Sixers' Brand-New Big Three?
For more than a month, Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau had a common refrain when asked about the Jimmy Butler saga: The team couldn't allow itself...
LeBron on Butler trade: 76ers will be very good (1:39)
Jimmy Butler is traded
Brian Windhorst, Andrew Han, Nick Friedell and Bobby Marks launch an emergency session to break down the trade of Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Philadelphia 76ers.
2018-19 Northwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 10 | 3 | .769 | - | W4 |
| Denver | 9 | 5 | .643 | 1.5 | L4 |
| Oklahoma City | 8 | 5 | .615 | 2 | W1 |
| Utah | 7 | 6 | .538 | 3 | W3 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 9 | .357 | 5.5 | W1 |
2018-19 Team Leaders
- Offense
- Defense
Points Per Game
Assists Per Game
Field Goal Percentage
Rebounds Per Game
Steals Per Game
Blocks Per Game
Team Stats
Points Per Game111.211th
Rebounds Per Game43.622nd
Assists Per Game22.519th
Points Allowed117.428th
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Injuries
2018 Draft Picks
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(20) | Josh Okogie | SG | Georgia Tech |
| 2(18) | Keita Bates-Diop | SF | Ohio State |
Team History
| YEAR | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 5 | 9 | .357 |
| 2017-18 | 47 | 35 | .573 |
| 2016-17 | 31 | 51 | .378 |
| 2015-16 | 29 | 53 | .354 |
| 2014-15 | 16 | 66 | .195 |