Getty Gallery: 3/5
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.