NBA Trade Rumors: Jimmy Butler Prefers Heat, Speculation Regarding Anthony Davis' Future

The 2018-2019 NBA season is only a few weeks away from starting, but much of the discussion about the league has little to do with the actual games that will soon be played. Trade rumors regarding some of the league’s best players continue to dominate the news.

It’s no secret that Jimmy Butler wants out of Minnesota, and the Timberwolves are openly pursuing a deal for the All-Star. Several teams are interested in acquiring the shooting guard, though head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau has made it clear that Minnesota will only trade Butler for the right price.

Butler initially informed the Timberwolves that he wanted to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets, with L.A. being his preferred destination, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The latest update comes from The New York Times’ Marc Stein, who has reported that Butler and his agent have told Minnesota the Miami Heat are his preferred destination.

Miami has reportedly been the most aggressive team in trade talks with Minnesota. Wojnarowski reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers have had discussions with the Timberwolves, while a few other teams are interested in getting involved in trade talks.

Minnesota doesn’t have any motivation to send Butler to one of his desired destinations. Butler is eligible to become a free agent next summer, so teams that believe they can sign the 29-year-old to a contract extension might be more willing to give up assets for him.

Butler is expected to become the latest star that’s dealt a year before he can hit free agency. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were traded in consecutive seasons, though not to their preferred destinations. Kyrie Irving was traded two years before he could become a free agent.

Anthony Davis isn’t eligible to become a free agent until the summer of 2020, but that hasn’t stopped his name from being tossed into trade speculation. ESPN’s Jalen Rose created headlines this week by predicting Davis would be sent to the Los Angeles Lakers to play with LeBron James before the start of the 2019-2020 season. It comes on the heels of Davis signing with Klutch Sports, which also represents James.

This is nothing new for Davis, who has been in trade rumors at different times over the last year. The Boston Celtics have been thought to be a potential player for Davis because of their assets that include future draft picks and young players.

A union between Los Angeles and Davis would make sense. The Lakers have young players to potentially trade, and L.A. is still hoping to pair another superstar with the NBA’s top player. Free-agents-to-be like Butler, Leonard and Klay Thompson could become options for the Lakers next offseason.

Davis would likely have to inform the New Orleans Pelicans that he plans to go elsewhere in 2020 in order for the organization to trade him. That would also mean turning down a supermax contract, which could be worth $230 million.

Davis and the Pelicans swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of last year’s playoffs before losing to the Golden State Warriors in five games. Butler and Minnesota didn’t make it out of the first round.