Minnesota Timberwolves: Sources report that Miami may be revisiting trade ideas for Jimmy Butler
By Trey Flynn
This has been a crazy morning for the Minnesota Timberwolves and for us here at Dunking with Wolves. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported that the Miami Heat are willing to revisit the idea of trading for Jimmy Butler after a disappointing weekend.
The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Jimmy Butler and Miami Heat roller-coaster has not been a fun one, leaving most of our writers sick at this point (mostly me).
With another Woj bomb over the past few minutes, we’ve learned the following:
"Via, Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN/Twitter)“After talks fell apart over weekend, Miami’s still pursuing discussions with Minnesota on a Jimmy Butler trade, sources tell ESPN. Butler has been in Timberwolves locker room with teammates this morning before practice, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll join them on floor.”"
Butler was reported by many sources that he attended practice this morning, but not to play with the team, more so to meet up with his current teammates.
Some have speculated that could mean Butler would come back to play with Minny in the next few days, I seriously doubt that and I don’t think anyone should humor that idea.
For one, Minnesota fans would riot. For two, I would riot.
Woj illustrates this news in depth here, per usual:
"Via, ESPN“There has been hope among the Minnesota front office, coaching staff and some teammates that Butler would rejoin the team, but it remained to be seen what, if anything, Butler would do on the court with the Wolves on Wednesday. At times, Butler has been working out away from the team at the facility since his trade request three weeks ago.”"
Nobody wants this, and Woj doesn’t go on to speculate on whether this could even be a possibility, so no thank you.
As stated before, not only would fans be mad, but there are certain players on the Wolves that would potentially riot over Butler coming back to the forefront of the Wolves’ starting lineup.
Moving onto other big Woj news, the Miami Heat are re-interested in Jimmy Butler.
Huh?
"“Miami had softened on including guard Josh Richardson in versions of a possible deal for Butler, only to recoil once Minnesota pushed late for a sweeter return on the four-time All-Star forward, league sources said. Richardson, 25, is considered a strong, young two-way player. He averaged 12.9 points in 81 starts last season. He’s in the first season of a four-year, $42 million contract.Outside of the Heat, the Timberwolves have had no serious, active talks ongoing with any other team recently, league sources said. Butler has told Minnesota that he’ll leave in free agency in July — and wants a trade now.Owner Glen Taylor has pushing president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden to find a deal sooner rather than later for Butler, league sources said.”"
While this reads as a lot of information you may already know about, it comes at an interesting time from Woj. ESPN reporter Stefano Fusaro illustrated earlier today that the Houston Rockets were called again by Minnesota again asking about another potential Jimmy Butler trades, which we have some ideas about here.
You could speculate that the Houston news came out because it was MEANT to come out.
Tom Thibodeau and Glen Taylor may be toying with the Miami Heat and Pat Riley so they Heat can raise the ante on what they can potentially give up for Jimmy Butler.
That’s at least, what an intelligent and well-thought out franchise would do.
If another Miami deal does surface on Thibs table, could the offer be more than Josh Richardson and a draft pick? Could we see a blockbuster trade?
Time will tell in Minnesota.