Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Why Knicks, Lakers Won't Acquire Timberwolves' Star For 2018-2019 Season

If Jimmy Butler has his way, he’ll be playing in one of the country’s two largest markets in the 2018-2019 NBA season. The shooting guard has asked the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade him to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski has reported that Butler is most interested in joining the Clippers because the organization would likely be able to offer a top free agent a max contract in 2019, even after giving Butler an extension. There have been rumors that Kawhi Leonard is strongly considering going to the Clippers when his deal with the Toronto Raptors expires at the end of the season.

It might be surprising to some that Butler didn’t put the Los Angeles Lakers on his wish list of teams. The Lakers could still make a deal for Butler, but they would risk losing him as a free agent next summer.

According to Wojnarowski, the Lakers’ addition of LeBron James has made them a less appealing destination for Butler. The idea that Butler doesn’t want to play with James isn’t new. Before Minnesota acquired Butler from the Chicago Bulls during the 2017 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers pursued a deal for the All-Star. Multiple reports said Butler told the Cavs he didn’t want to go to Cleveland.

If it’s a New York team that ends up trading for Butler, it might be the Nets. Less than 48 hours before Butler’s trade request became public, the Knicks made it clear that they wouldn’t mortgage their future for a player that will hit free agency in 2019.

“We’re not going to trade assets that we can get on our own later,” Knicks president Steve Mills said at Monday’s Garden fanfest while speaking with season-ticket holders. “We’re not taking shortcuts. We’re not going to trade our draft picks. We believe New York will buy into a plan.”

Any trade for Butler would almost certainly have to include Frank Ntilikina (No.8 overall pick in 2017), Kevin Knox (No.9 overall pick in 2018) or the Knicks’ 2019 first-rounder. Minnesota might ask for two of those assets in exchange for a player that’s been an All-Star in four straight seasons and an All-NBA Third Team selection in two consecutive years.

Minnesota president and head coach Tom Thibodeau reportedly doesn’t want to trade Butler. If the Timberwolves don’t deal Butler, they’ll likely lose him for nothing when he becomes a free agent in July. Even with Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota isn't a legitimate title contender this season.

The Timberwolves traded No.7 overall pick Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Zach Lavine to acquire Butler less than 15 months ago. Butler averaged 22.2 points. 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 59 games with Minnesota.

Minnesota went 47-35 last season to earn the Western Conference’s No.8 seed. The team was eliminated by the Houston Rockets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.