The 2017 NBA Draft has concluded, and the landscape of the league has changed dramatically – the biggest shakeup having little to do with the night’s newest league entrants. Too, there’s the global question of whether the draft rules should change to alleviate one of the NBA’s most pressing issues – the fact that unless a team is young and on the rise, franchises should either be competing or tanking, doing everything possible to avoid the dreaded treadmill mid-pack status. But that’s a subject for a future column. For now, here’s three of the most intriguing storylines ahead of free agency this weekend.

 

The impact of the Jimmy Butler deal

Fan reaction was swiftly condemning of the Bulls’ front office as news spread of the trade that sent the popular Butler, 27, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the bust-likely Kris Dunn, the injured and solid but unremarkable Zach LaVine, and trading up nine spots in the draft for Finnish-born Lauri Markkanen, a 7 foot stretch four who profiles similarly to restricted free agent Nikola Mirotic – hardly the sort of package return worthy of a consensus Top 15 player in the NBA, even if Mirotic does end up leaving Chicago.

 

On the other end, Minnesota gets a 20+ PPG player who can share the scoring load with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, and, most importantly, dramatically upgrade the T-Wolves’ defense – not only in Butler’s own aggressive, strong defensive skills, but in the fighting mentality he can instill in the still young Wiggins and Towns – all of which dovetails with Tom Thibodeau’s grinding defensive coaching preferences.

 

While rushing to name the Wolves as rising contenders to challenge the transcendently talented Warriors would be foolish as Chicago was in making this trade (the Celtics and Lakers immediately leap to mind as destinations that could have easily beaten this shockingly poor return), Minnesota will have considerable cap space to play with – assuming Nikola Pekovic is medically retired and Jordan Hill’s contract isn’t guaranteed. Ample enough space to add another key player – perhaps Paul Millsap or Serge Ibaka? – or rebuild their bench. Thus, that rise could be faster and higher than expected.

 

How much of a distraction, if any, will LaVar Ball be

That LaVar Ball is the latest in a long line of braggart fathers who manage star athletes (see Richard Williams, Earl Woods, et. al.) is without question. What’s uncertain is how much of an issue he’ll be. While Serena/Venus and Tiger respectively soared to the highest echelons of their respective sports, it’s worth noting that those offspring were in individual sports. Ball represents a unique case study for how this phenomenon impact steam sports. Currently, the consensus seems to be that it won’t be an issue – NBA front office officials who spoke to USA Today on condition of anonymity noted that Lonzo Ball hasn’t shown any character red flags and elevated his team’s play while at UCLA in leading the Bruins to a 29-4 record, and appears to take his father’s loudmouthed chatter in stride. While Planet LaVar may be an issue in future contract talks with shoe companies, from an on-court perspective, it appears no more than sound and fury, signifying nothing.

 

What’s going to happen with Paul George?

If the Bulls’ fans were incensed at the paltry return for Butler, Pacers fans are equally perplexed that, as of press time, Paul George was still in Indiana. Despite repeated public pronouncements that he wants to go to a winning team or the Lakers, George’s team has not yet moved him. A deal would make sense for the Lakers – obtaining Bird Rights and the accompanying ability to add a fifth year to his next contract are significant enticements – and the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Spurs are all reported to have high interest in acquiring one of the NBA’s star players. But just as Danny Ainge continues to sit on a plethora of assets, playing the draft pick stockpile game, Indiana’s front office keeps sitting on their lone prime piece. The longer the Pacers putter about, the less likely they are to receive anything resembling a decent return. The prediction here says that he’ll still be moved before the start of the regular season, as someone will finally cave. If Indiana is inert until the deadline, however, they’ll rue their numerous missed opportunities for a richer flip.