Sans Butler, the 'Wolves can only muster a
minus-4.5 net rating, for which the closest comparison is the season-long efforts of the lottery-bound New York Knicks (
minus-4.2). Forced to rely more heavily on Andrew Wiggins' volume-scoring attempts, they descend into mediocrity on offense while completely falling apart on defense. But when this swingman is on the floor, that net rating soars to 8.3, which would leave them behind only the Houston Rockets (8.5) in the overall standings.
Let's put this another way.
When Butler is benched, whether because of injury or head coach Tom Thibodeau letting him rest (hah, as if that would ever happen), Minnesota plays offense like the
No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans and defense like a significantly worse version of the
No. 30Phoenix Suns. When he plays, the 'Wolves operate better than the No. 1 Golden State Warriors on offense and like the No. 11 Detroit Pistons on defense.