Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard Teaming Up? Raptors Reportedly Interested In Minnesota Star

The Toronto Raptors are the latest team to be interested in Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Jimmy Butler.

It was reported last week that Butler wanted out of Minnesota and had a shortlist of three teams he wanted a trade to, with the Los Angeles Clippers later revealed as his ideal preference.

The Clippers are enticing for the 29-year-old particularly because they have the cap space to not only offer him a max contract at the end of his deal next summer, but another top star in free agency as well.

That star could be Toronto's Kawhi Leonard. The former San Antonio man can enter free agency next year and is reported to want a move back to his native Los Angeles, and the duo playing together would certainly make the Clippers playoff contenders again.

However, the Raptors are seemingly hoping the pair can play together in Toronto instead as Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports they are interested in the Minnesota star.

"Buzz this afternoon is that the Timberwolves have told at least one interested team that they can get a good player back," Wolfson posted on Twitter. "In other words, up your offer. More buzz: Toronto is interested."

Despite the number of teams interested, Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau will reportedly only trade Butler if they get a veteran in exchange as he is not interested in a rebuilding process.

While Wolfson did not state which team could offer Minnesota a "good player" in return, if it is Toronto, it might be a risk that is worth it. As Bleacher Report speculates, trading point guard Kyle Lowry would not work financially due to the money he and Butler are owed this season. However, trading Serge Ibaka and OG Anunoby would make sense financially.

The risk comes from the fact that both Leonard and Butler could be free agents by the end of the 2018/19 season and walk away to different teams.

On the other hand, the duo along with Lowry, could form a "Big Three" in Toronto and reaching the NBA Finals and possibly even winning it could convince them to sign long-term contracts with the franchise.

Meanwhile, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that along with the Clippers, the likes of the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings have all inquired about Butler, though only a few franchises are engaged in serious conversations.

In addition, he reports that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has mandated that a deal for Butler needs to be negotiated and completed before Tuesday, when the team has its first day of practice.

"The owner's trading him. That was made clear. It's just a matter of when," one board of governors source told ESPN while another high-ranking league official said: "He [Taylor] basically said, 'If you don't get anywhere with [Thibodeau's general manager, Scott Layden] and you've got something good, bring it to me."