Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Knicks, Nets, Clippers On Wish List Over Lakers, Celtics

Minnesota Timberwolves’ shooting guard Jimmy Butler has requested a trade, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski. A free-agent-to-be after the 2018-2019 NBA season, Butler has reportedly given Minnesota a list of one to three teams that he’d be interested in joining to potentially sign a contract extension.

It only took a few minutes for rumors to spread regarding which teams Butler would like to play for. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has said the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are the destinations that Butler gave to his current team.

Even before it was reported that Butler officially asked to be dealt, there was speculation that the Knicks might try to acquire the All-Star. The Knicks probably have the pieces to make a deal work, though it’s unknown if they’d be willing to part with their top assets.

Speaking with season-ticket holders at a town hall event Monday, Knicks president Steve Mills said the team wouldn’t trade draft picks. Minnesota would likely ask for No.9 overall pick Kevin Knox in a potential deal, but the 2018 first-rounder figures to be part of New York’s future after wowing the NBA in the Summer League. Former No.8 overall pick Frank Ntilikina might be included in any trade discussions.

It’s been reported that Kyrie Irving and Butler, who are both entering the final year of their respective contracts, want to team up in 2019. Irving is expected to consider the Knicks when his deal with the Boston Celtics concludes at the end of next season. Perhaps Butler hopes to force his way to New York in the first step of that plan.

Of course, the star guards could team up in New York and not play for the Knicks. Brooklyn unloaded a lot of money this offseason, giving them the space to sign two max free agents in the summer of 2019. The Knicks would have to make additional moves to create a second max salary slot.

When it comes to the Clippers, their current payroll projection for the 2019 offseason falls in between that of both New York teams. There’s a good chance they’ll have the money to sign two max free agents, making Los Angeles an intriguing destination for Butler. Kawhi Leonard is expected to be the Clippers’ top target in 2019 free agency. The tandem of Leonard and Butler would make L.A. one of the best teams in the West.

Leonard was traded by the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors earlier in the offseason. The former NBA Finals MVP had informed San Antonio that he wanted to play in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have been speculated as teams that Butler might want to join. The Lakers and Celtics have draft picks and young players that would likely intrigue Minnesota, but the two teams could be wary of making a trade if they aren’t sure they’ll be able to sign Butler to a long-term deal.

In August, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus reported that Butler was open to the idea of joining LeBron James and the Lakers.

Butler has been an All-Star in each of the last four years. He turned 29 years old just a few days ago.