Philadelphia 76ers pull of trade for Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler to partner with Aussie Ben Simmons

AUSSIE young gun Ben Simmons is getting another All-Star to help his Philadelphia side launch a serious strike on the NBA title after the 76ers pulled off a trade for disgruntled Minnesota superstar Jimmy Butler.

Philadelphia 76ers' Aussie young gun Ben Simmons has a new star teammate in former Minnesota Timberwolves wing Jimmy Butler.

AUSSIE young gun Ben Simmons is getting another All-Star to help his Philadelphia 76ers launch a serious strike on the NBA championship.

After months of bickering and a poisonous locker room with his Minnesota Timberwolves, four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has been granted his wish and is set to be traded to the 76ers.

Las Vegas oddsmakers immediately halved the 76ers’ odds to win the NBA title from $20 to $10 and claim the Eastern Conference from $8 to $3.

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Disgruntled Minnesota Timberwolves wing Jimmy Butler has reportedly been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Picture: AP

Sources: With league office trade call and physicals set for Monday, the earliest the Sixers expect Jimmy Butler's debut: Wednesday at the Orlando Magic.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018

Jimmy Butler and the Sixers fully expect to reach a deal on a long-term contract this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Sixers made deal with plans to add Butler to a Big Three with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 10, 2018

The deal is yet to be formally announced by the NBA, but both teams have agreed to it.

The 76ers have had an inconsistent start to the new NBA season winning eight and losing five games.

They sit in third place in the Eastern Conference behind front runners the Toronto Raptors and second-placed Milwaukee Bucks, who feature Australians Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker.

Welcome to Philadelphia, @JimmyButler. pic.twitter.com/J5b5ZENRIo

— ESPN (@espn) November 10, 2018

Jimmy Butler: “Yo Holmes, to Philly!” pic.twitter.com/UqhC4FEHZ6

— Mostly Football (@MostlyFBShow) November 10, 2018

The 76ers also needed to find another superstar to help the team overcome Aron Baynes’ Boston Celtics, who sit in fifth place in the East but proved too strong for Rookie of the Year Simmons and All-Star centre Joel Embiid in last year’s playoffs.

76ers coach Brett Brown talked before the season about the team shopping for a third superstar and they will get that with Butler.

Have the 76ers found the final piece to the puzzle to help guide Aussie Ben Simmons and the team to an NBA title? Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Butler, a shooting guard and small forward, is an elite scorer and defender.

The 76ers will send key members Robert Covington and Dario Saric to Minnesota in the deal.

Philadelphia’s Jerryd Bayless, and a 2020 second-round draft pick will also be sent to Minnesota, while the Timberwolves send back Justin Patton with Butler.

The Timberwolves have been a disaster this season with Butler openly vilifying teammates as soft and demanding a trade, and with the team losing all five games on their latest road trip. Head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau pulled the trigger on the trade.

The deal also puts the 76ers in the box seat to sign Butler next year to a maximum five-year $US190 million ($A263 million) contract — more than any other team can offer.

Originally published as Philadelphia 76ers pull of trade for Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler to partner with Aussie Ben Simmons