Dunking With Wolves
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Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Butler trades to all 30 NBA teams

By Trey Flynn

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 30: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves tries to stop a pass from Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in an NBA game at the Air Canada Centre on January 30, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Timberwolves 109-104. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 20: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reaches for the ball controlled by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during the second quarter of the game on October 20, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 20: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reaches for the ball controlled by Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during the second quarter of the game on October 20, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Jimmy Butler traded to the Utah Jazz

Utah is an intriguing team.

A lot like the Denver Nuggets, the Utah Jazz and Denver aren’t historically great free agent destination in the summer for a lot of guys, but once you get there and feel the fan base and city out, players seem to really enjoy themselves there.

The Jazz are 4-4 and will be fighting for a playoff spot this season, which I believe – if Rudy Gobert is healthy – they will get home-court advantage in the West. So obviously they are a great team and adding an asset like Jimmy Butler and pairing him next to a very similar young stud in Donovan Mitchell, you could really make some noise leading up to the Western Finals.

A starting lineup of the Jazz would look like this: Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, Derrick Favors, and Rudy Gobert.

Again, a lot like Milwaukee or Denver, the Utah Jazz need an extra piece to complete their roster for the playoffs and the 4-time All-Star Jimmy Butler is it.

The Wolves would get an interesting haul for Butler’s talents.

Alec Burks would finally get out of Utah where he – arguably – hasn’t been utilized correctly and also hasn’t been healthy for the majority of his career there. Jae Crowder would most likely start at the wing for defensive reasons and he’s – at times – a nice knock down three point shooter.

And the most interesting player is Royce O’Neal who is essentially a first round pick in himself. He only plays around 14 MPG, but has the potential to be a really nice role player in this league, he’s essentially an all-around asset a lot like the Miami Heat’s Justise Winslow.

The 2019 unprotected is a nice cherry on top for Minnesota, who I’m sure would hope that Utah would just fall short of the playoffs and the Wolves could get a lottery pick out of this deal.

Ultamitely, I wouldn’t make this move even with the nice pieces in return for Butler, just because I think Minny would be making Utah an immovable object in the playoff standings in the West for years to come.