Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Butler trade ideas to the Pacers, Cavaliers, Heat, Pistons, and Hornets
By Trey Flynn
The Minnesota Timberwolves began the regular season losing to the San Antonio Spurs by four points in an away game that starred Jimmy Butler in a Wolves’ jersey – the drama continues to ensue in Minnesota.
For better or worse, this is our second to last post on the Jimmy Butler trade saga that we’ve created here at Dunking With Wolves, thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ front office for being slow on the Jimmy-front.
Our first three posts featured 14 trades to 14 Western Conference teams, which you can find here, here, and then finally here.
Our latest post was our first Eastern Conference look at who could acquire Butler’s talents, click here to see that one which included the Celtics and 76ers, to name a few.
It’s important to note that I don’t necessarily like writing these posts and that I’d much rather a deal get done sooner rather than later because I am increasingly frustrated by the amount of times I have to write Jimmy Butler’s name. I’m assuming this is how some news media outlets feel about writing ‘President Trump.’
No, that wasn’t a comparison of the 4-time All-Star and Trump – although they both do a really great job of acting like nothing bothers them.
Moreover, I’d like to add that Butler should be moved (this time, I’m sure) by the end of next week. You can’t possibly keep JB longer than five or six games into the regular season, especially when you see Head Coach Tom Thibodeau not give first round pick Josh Okogie any minutes in the first game against San Antonio.
Once Butler departs, Okogie will presumably fill up some of those minutes that will potentially be created for other players.
One thing that is reassuring for the future of Minnesota is that if Butler is moved for role players and draft picks, those picks can potentially be very helpful assets in the near future. Whether they turn into impact players or added assets in future deals for other players.
I say this because it’s more important to protect Minnesota’s growing culture than to try and get another second round pick for Butler’s talents like Thibodeau was rumored to be doing with the Miami Heat.
We don’t want to lose whatever Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are trying to create in Minnesota, Butler is just getting in the way of the future for the Wolves and the front office is starting to become blind to that because they are seeking too much in deals.
Our last post had Butler going to teams for not a lot back, for the most part, just a role player and a few draft picks in return. Which is what the Wolves should fight for right now, it just depends on who the role player is – a Eric Gordon or Robert Covington player should suffice.
But, of course, if there is a deal to be made for an All-Star talent, that should be a done deal (Brandon Ingram or Josh Richardson type players).
This five team trade idea piece for Jimmy Butler’s talents includes the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Charlotte Hornets.
All of these trades are contractually legal and have been processed through the ESPN trade machine.