Nov 10, 2018 3 min read

Jimmy Butler has his wish: He’s out of Minnesota.

And just like that, Philadelphia has a new Big Three – one that could make serious noise in the Eastern Conference.

A person with knowledge of the situation said Saturday that Butler is being traded to the 76ers in a package that will send Dario Saric and Robert Covington to the Timberwolves. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been announced by either team and was still pending NBA approval, which is not expected until Monday.

Justin Patton will also be sent to Philadelphia, and Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick are also going to Minnesota, the person said.

The Athletic first reported the agreement.

Because the trade was not official, Sixers coach Brett Brown had little comment.

“I can’t speak much about it. I’m sorry,” he said before the Sixers played Memphis.

Sixers guard T.J. McConnell said he learned of the deal through social media.

“I didn’t think it was true until more reports started coming out,” McConnell said. “It’s kind of that feeling in your stomach of just like, I mean, you can’t really explain it. I was in disbelief.”

Philadelphia’s “Process” led it to the second round of the playoffs last season behind two of the game’s youngest, brightest stars in big man Joel Embiid and point guard Ben Simmons. Butler, an elite wing and outstanding defender, will join them in a quest to rule the Eastern Conference now that LeBron James has left that league to join the Los Angeles Lakers following eight straight trips to the NBA Finals with Miami and Cleveland.

The first order of business will be making the trade official, something that could come in time to get Butler in uniform for a game at Miami on Monday. The next step for Philadelphia will be coming to an agreement on an extension for Butler, a pending free agent who made clear to Minnesota that he would not be re-signing there in 2019.

L.A. Clippers 128, Milwaukee 126, OT: Lou Williams hit a jumper with .3 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers to a 128-126 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Montrezl Harrell intercepted Giannis Antetokounmpo’s inbounds pass as time expired, sending the Bucks to just their third loss in 12 games.

Harrell led the Clippers with 26 points off the bench. Patrick Beverley added 21 points and Tobias Harris had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Bucks.

Toronto 128, N.Y. Knicks 112: Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 23 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 19 points and 10 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors beat the New York Knicks 128-112, improving their league-leading record to 12-1.

OG Anunoby scored 16 points and Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka and Delon Wright each had 12 as the Raptors won their sixth straight home meeting with the Knicks and improved to 7-0 at home this season. Toronto has won six straight overall.