There's no question the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in an uncomfortable and unfortunate situation currently. Just a year after acquiring All-Star guard Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen, the 29-year-old now wants out of town.
While Butler has two years remaining on his current deal, he could choose to opt out after this season and head to free agency. Essentially, it's somewhat of a lose-lose for the Timberwolves, as potential trade partners are well aware Butler wants out, which may drive his price down.
The only bright side is that if Minnesota deals the guard ahead of the upcoming season, teams who are either championship contenders or middling playoff teams could pay up to land him. A player of Butler's caliber can unquestionably help push a team over the top immediately.
Evaluating Potential Interest
Realistically, it may benefit the Timberwolves to send Butler to one of his preferred destinations. Those teams could be more inclined to create a solid package due to the fact that he'd be joining the team with the expectation of a longterm deal being signed shortly after.
Butler’s original list of destinations included the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks. But since that point, we’ve seen somewhat of a shift, as the All-Star informed the Timberwolves that the Miami Heat are now the team he’s interested in joining. All four teams certainly have the ability to create a solid package for Butler, but not each of them should truly be considered in the mix.
Two other teams who could push their way into talks before all is said and done are the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers. A deal for the Sixers would be much easier to make happen, while the Rockets would likely need to add a third team to the mix due to their salary cap situation.
While Philadelphia has an intriguing amount of assets they could include, they are one of the longshot candidates to land Butler. Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice previously revealed that the Sixers are "wary" of the impact the Timberwolves guard would have on their locker room. He also pointed out the team is unlikely to pay up if the asking price is overly steep.
From here, we're going to take a look at all the info that's come to light thus far and evaluate the top potential destinations for Butler via trade. This list could potentially change or increase as additional information is revealed.
Let's dive in with one of the most likely teams to make a deal happen.
Miami Heat
Here's the thing with the Miami Heat – they may want Butler and currently sit as his preferred destination, but that means very little. As Sean Deveney of Sporting News revealed, the Timberwolves won't stick to just Butler's preferred list of teams when looking at trades. Realistically, they shouldn't either, so it's hard to argue with Minnesota's handling of this.
On the positive side, there are benefits to the Timberwolves if they opt to move the All-Star to Miami. The most obvious is the fact that it would send him out of the Western Conference and lessens the chance of the team having to face Butler in the playoffs down the road.
And as Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald revealed, both Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra are incredibly fond of Butler.
"The Heat was aggressively pursuing a trade for disgruntled Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jimmy Butler on Sunday, targeting a player who has long been a favorite of the organization, according to several league sources."
"Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra always have admired Butler, not only because of his offensive game, but because of his competitive nature and strong defensive skills, which resulted in him being named second-team All-NBA defense four times in his career."
What Could Be Included in a Jimmy Butler-Heat Deal?
Recently, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski pointed to Goran Dragic being involved in the deal as part of a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns. In these talks, the Timberwolves would receive Dragic and potentially send current point guard Jeff Teague to the Suns.
A bit later, Wojnarowski did reveal the asking price for Butler was too steep for the Suns at this moment so the potential for that to happen has cooled off quite a bit. It's not completely dead, but Dragic being the centerpiece of a three-team deal seems less likely.
Here's where things get even more fun, though. The Miami Herald pointed out that the Heat have already made it known Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson, and Dion Waiters are all available via trade. But while Whiteside has solid trade value and both Johnson and Waiters are intriguing, it'd likely take more than that.
Plus, how on earth are Karl-Anthony Towns and Whiteside going to play together? Could the duo coexist inside? It's a big question to answer, and it's probably not worth the headache for Thibodeau unless he and the front office are incredibly high on the big man.
Realistically, we'd probably be looking at something like a first-round pick, Dragic and potentially Waiters or Josh Richardson. Bam Adebayo would likely also find himself at least in the conversation. I'm not sold on the Heat being all that interested in dealing Richardson, but if it meant landing the player Riley and Spoelstra covet, then I can see it happening.
Specific Trade Possibility
*We used ESPN's Trade Machine to evaluate a possible deal, and this worked out for both sides.
Timberwolves Receive
– Goran Dragic
– Dion Waiters
– Bam Adebayo
Heat Receive
– Jimmy Butler
– Gorgui Dieng
Not sure if a first-round pick would need to be included in this, but this trio is quite a bit in exchange for Butler. I'm actually not sure if the Heat would go this far, but it's obviously very possible.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets find themselves squarely in the mix and potentially near the top of the list when it comes to landing Butler. One key issue I see looming is the same one that impacts the New York Knicks. If Butler truly wants to go to Brooklyn, how much would a team with a plethora of young talent opt to give up when they have a realistic chance to sign him in free agency?
A big selling point for both Butler and the Nets on this deal, though, is the fact that the team would have enough money for two additional high-dollar free agents next offseason. If Butler and the front office were able to recruit two big names to town, it would instantly make Brooklyn an incredibly talented team.
As mentioned with the Heat, there has to be an appeal to the idea of playing in the Eastern Conference as well. With Butler and two other high-profile names, it would shoot the Nets to the top 3-4 of the East almost immediately. The Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, 76ers, and even Milwaukee Bucks are no joke, but it's not nearly as brutal as being in the Western Conference.
Hypothetically, would Butler prefer trying to build a core that has to face LeBron James, the star-studded Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets trio of James Harden, Chris Paul, and Clint Capela? There's no world where the answer to that question is yes.
What Could Be Included in a Jimmy Butler-Nets Deal?
Where do you start? Honestly, if the Nets wind up being open to a deal for Butler, they could go a variety of different avenues. Allen Crabbe would likely have appeal, big man Jarrett Allen is a player on the rise, and both Caris LeVert and D'Angelo Russell would garnish attention.
The idea of Russell or LeVert/Crabbe being included is pretty appealing on the surface. Russell had a down year last season but we know he has high upside and the ability to impact games in a variety of ways. One big factor is that he'd be able to add a scoring punch which the Timberwolves would lose after moving Butler.
Regardless of what gets put into a deal, there would likely need to be a first-round pick included, and as Legion Hoops pointed out, the Nets are highly unlikely to overpay.
This also comes along with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski revealing there's been "no traction" between the Timberwolves and Nets on a possible deal. On the surface, it seems Minnesota is demanding a high asking price and isn't overly interested in coming off it. This could change over time as the talks roll on and teams begin to have somewhat of a bidding war for Butler.
Specific Trade Possibility
*We used ESPN's Trade Machine to evaluate a possible deal, and this worked out for both sides.
Timberwolves Receive
– D'Angelo Russell
– Allen Crabbe
– First-round pick
Nets Receive
– Jimmy Butler
The Nets are unlikely to deal both Russell and Caris LeVert, but I think Crabbe being in the mix is possible. In terms of adding a first-round pick, it was a close call as to whether or not that was realistic. This is a pretty big haul for Butler, but it seemed slightly light without the pick, so I added it.
Los Angeles Clippers
The appeal of playing for the Clippers does take a bit of a hit when considering how stacked the Western Conference is. With that said, Butler has the interest and we know Kawhi Leonard originally wanted to be dealt there. It's unknown if Leonard will choose to stay with the Toronto Raptors beyond this season, but if he doesn't, the Clippers are likely to be the frontrunners to sign him.
So if the Clips are able to pair up Butler and Leonard, and then possibly add another max-level player next offseason (it'd be close, but could happen), it makes things interesting. Both Los Angeles teams would be pretty stacked at that point, and there's no question Butler is well aware of how much cash the potential suitors he originally named will have next offseason.
Way back when all this trade fun started in mid-September, Wojnarowski reported that Butler was "determined" to find a way to the Clippers.
While Butler may have his sights set more on the Heat currently, it seems obvious he'd be more than happy to wind up in Los Angeles. But the big question involves what the team would choose to give up, especially if they're confident they can lure him to town in free agency.
What Could Be Included in a Jimmy Butler-Clippers Deal?
I actually believe the Clippers have the ability to offer the most straightforward deal which could be worth Minnesota's while. If they were to send Lou Williams and Tobias Harris to the Timberwolves in exchange for Butler, it'd benefit both sides, although the Clippers would be quite a bit weaker for the 2018-19 season.
With that said, if the Clippers swung a deal for Butler, their focus would go far beyond this season, as the team is in a rebuild regardless. Both Williams and Harris are two names to consider, but honestly, they're just a starting point as the team has to be willing to deal almost anyone on the roster.
The only player Minnesota is unlikely to get in a Butler package would be rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Beyond that, the Timberwolves could essentially create whatever package they feel comfortable with. This would include a mixture of players they see as long-term answers to their needs and potential expiring contracts.
If the Timberwolves and Clippers really put their heads together, this potential package could be a nice one and really, the deal that makes the most sense.
Specific Trade Possibility
*We used ESPN's Trade Machine to evaluate a possible deal, and this worked out for both sides.
Timberwolves Receive
– Tobias Harris
– Lou Williams
Clippers Receive
– Jimmy Butler
I decided to go straight with this one, as I think an offer of Harris and Williams should get the job done. Whether the Timberwolves feel that way is unknown, but there's an argument to be made that this package could be one of the best for Minnesota.
Houston Rockets/Philadelphia 76ers
I decided to put these two teams together for one reason – they're both longshots to land Butler. But the reason behind the two teams not being popular bets to get the job done is very different on each side.
For the Rockets, they would need to really get creative on making a deal, which is something ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski pointed out. Realistically, they could make a deal to bring Butler to town happen, but they'd need a third team in the mix.
Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype offered an interesting breakdown of the situation and cited an interesting quote on both the Rockets and Sixers situations in a Butler deal. As he revealed, Dan Woike spoke to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports, who pointed out the thought behind a win-now mentality which would utilize Butler as a one-year rental.
“In some ways, he’s almost more attractive to me as a rental for a team like if Houston can figure something out or a team like Philadelphia. To me [with] those teams, he may even make more sense in that ‘we’re going to have you here for a year and we’re going to try to win a title and then we’re not going to give you that max’ than he does for a team that’s looking at him as ‘we’re going to want this guy to be the face of our franchise for the next five years.'”
The Rockets need to find a way to free up the cap space and if a three-team deal gets on the table with the right suitor, this becomes an interesting conversation. Whether or not that happens is the big question.
As for the Sixers, they'd have to move Wilson Chandler's contract in a deal, and also some additional money, but the real question is what assets they'd include. I previously touched on the fact that they'd be unlikely to go crazy sending assets away, and with the Timberwolves' high asking price, it makes this deal highly unlikely.
UPDATE
According to The Athletic's Sam Amick, the Sixers are "completely out" of the Butler trade talks. Amick states talks between the two teams never had any traction after the original talks. This goes hand-in-hand with the expectation that the Sixers were unwilling to give up much in terms of assets or young talent in exchange for Butler.
What Could Be Included in a Jimmy Butler-Rockets/Sixers Deal?
A deal with the Rockets would surely have to start around Eric Gordon, which is something Kalbrosky broke down on Hoops Hype. His thoughts included having Gordon, as well as additional salary filler in the mix to help make it happen.
"The Rockets could offer Eric Gordon, although would need to add more salary filler (e.g. PJ Tucker) to fit within the CBA. Daryl Morey will assuredly be interested in pushing his team closer to a title." Kalbrosky writes.
Based on the salary cap situation, it becomes incredibly hard to pinpoint what type of deal the Rockets would offer. With a third team having to come into the mix, that would likely impact how much is included in a potential package. Obviously, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Clint Capela would be off the table, but it'd be worth hearing what other names Houston won't move off.
The Sixers side features Chandler as a key part but then comes down to whether or not the team would trade Dario Saric or Markelle Fultz. They've put a lot of belief in Fultz's rebuilt jump shot after an offseason working with NBA player development specialist Drew Hanlen.
Honestly, I have a hard time seeing the Sixers jumping on board and choosing to include either player at this point for a potential one-year rental. Barring new general manager Elton Brand believing Butler is literally the piece that can get the job done this season, they'll likely stand pat.
Both the Rockets and Sixers are unlikely, but Houston seems interested in continuing to make a push, so we certainly can't rule them out of the Butler sweepstakes yet.
Specific Trade Possibility
*We used ESPN's Trade Machine to evaluate a possible deal, and this worked out for both sides.
Timberwolves Receive
– Eric Gordon
– P.J. Tucker
– Zach Randolph
– Rockets first-round pick
Rockets Receive
– Jimmy Butler
Kings Receive
– Gorgui Dieng
– Timberwolves second-round pick
I brought in a third team here, and with the Kings going for a full youth movement, II think they'd be fine sending Zach Randolph to the Timberwolves. While Randolph isn't what he used to be, the veteran could still be a nice addition for Minnesota.
Tack on Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker along with a pick, and it would be interesting to see how all sides would feel about this.
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