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With Butler in fold, Wolves ready to shop for free agents

8 years ago in Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau, left, shakes hands with his former player Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler after an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2016, in Chicago. The Timberwolves won 99-94. Photo: Associated Press/(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writer

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — Jimmy Butler has a new team with the Timberwolves. He’s had his warm welcome to Minnesota.

Now he has work to do, when free agency begins: Persuade some of his peers around the league to join him.

As Wolves officials introduced Butler at a news conference Thursday at the Mall of America, they touted a belief that this up-and-coming team will be a desired destination on the open market.

The Wolves acquired Butler from Chicago in a draft-night trade . The deal sent point guard Kris Dunn and shooting guard Zach LaVine, their first-round draft picks in 2016 and 2014, to the Bulls. The teams also swapped first-rounders, with Minnesota moving down to No. 16 for center Justin Patton and Chicago taking power forward Lauri Markkanen with the No. 7 spot.

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AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski contributed to this report.

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For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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