Jimmy Butler Trade Ideas
Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:33 pm
OK, let's have a discussion focused entirely on possible Butler trades before the start of the season. I read Pelton's suggested deals on ESPN.com. Wow, they were all pretty bad. I sure hope the Wolves can do at least a little better than Pelton's ideas.
Focusing exclusively on the three teams on Butler's list, the best possibly realistic deal for the Wolves I can think of would be Butler to the Clippers for T. Harris, S. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Clipper's 2021 top 12 protected first round pick. As for the Knicks, I don't think Knox is a realistic option, but if he is, then I'd look to deal Butler for Knox, Noah and the Knicks 2019 top 10 protected pick. But again, I don't see that as realistic.
Going beyond those three teams, my first choice would be dealing Butler and Taj for Hayward, the Sacramento first rounder and the Memphis first round pick (or Boston's first rounder if they won't give up the Memphis pick). Why would the Celtics do that deal? Because Butler is better than Hayward and, in spite of Butler's tendency to miss games, he's not coming off the sort of profound injury that Hayward had last year. Also, signing Butler would enhance Boston's chances of re-signing Kyrie. That would be one heck of a team - Kyrie, Butler, Tatum, Brown, Horford and Smart. That's a team that could knock off the Warriors. Why should the Wolves do this deal? If he comes back healthy, Hayward would allow the Wolves to possibly be competitive this season. More importantly, the Kings pick will likely be top 5, which would give the Wolves a chance to bring in another young talent to go with KAT, Wiggins, Tyus and Okogie as part of re-instating the rebuilding process that Thibodeau prematurely terminated with his Butler deal and relentless pursuit of old former Bulls players.
Focusing exclusively on the three teams on Butler's list, the best possibly realistic deal for the Wolves I can think of would be Butler to the Clippers for T. Harris, S. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Clipper's 2021 top 12 protected first round pick. As for the Knicks, I don't think Knox is a realistic option, but if he is, then I'd look to deal Butler for Knox, Noah and the Knicks 2019 top 10 protected pick. But again, I don't see that as realistic.
Going beyond those three teams, my first choice would be dealing Butler and Taj for Hayward, the Sacramento first rounder and the Memphis first round pick (or Boston's first rounder if they won't give up the Memphis pick). Why would the Celtics do that deal? Because Butler is better than Hayward and, in spite of Butler's tendency to miss games, he's not coming off the sort of profound injury that Hayward had last year. Also, signing Butler would enhance Boston's chances of re-signing Kyrie. That would be one heck of a team - Kyrie, Butler, Tatum, Brown, Horford and Smart. That's a team that could knock off the Warriors. Why should the Wolves do this deal? If he comes back healthy, Hayward would allow the Wolves to possibly be competitive this season. More importantly, the Kings pick will likely be top 5, which would give the Wolves a chance to bring in another young talent to go with KAT, Wiggins, Tyus and Okogie as part of re-instating the rebuilding process that Thibodeau prematurely terminated with his Butler deal and relentless pursuit of old former Bulls players.