Toronto is starting to figure out what they want out of their team now that their former All-Star DeMar DeRozan is playing for the San Antonio Spurs.
Leading the team with point guard Kyle Lowry and do-it-all Kawhi Leonard seems like an exciting playoff run in the Eastern Conference, but what could tip the scales against the Celtics and 76ers would be the addition of Jimmy Butler.
This move would potentially make sense for both the Wolves and Raptors, getting a cheap/young big man with Pascal Siakam and getting a more long term power forward in Serge Ibaka sounds like a good deal for a disgruntled Jimmy Butler and an expensive Gorgui Dieng.
Especially if teams like the Houston Rockets are now reported to only be offering deals like Eric Gordon and a late first round pick.
Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden are going to have to look in the mirror and decide what they want out of a Butler deal, there first game back as a unit is tonight and I’m not too sure how they’ll look starting Butler who hasn’t played a preseason game or even more than two practices.
Trading JB to the Eastern Conference is also a really good idea, it’ll already be hard enough to make the playoffs this season in the West if Butler was traded to a team like Houston or even the LA Clippers.
With Taj Gibson and Siakam coming off the bench for Minnesota, possibly even Norman Powell if he could be included in this deal, you’d have a much more well rounded roster (offensively) with Ibaka next to KAT – it’s a done deal if this is offered. Not to mention the second round pick in 2019, although I’m not sure how Toronto would feel about moving that pick as they just moved a first for Kawhi.
The next trade idea will feature the Milwaukee Bucks, which makes the ‘Greek Freak’ inside of me tingle.