Timberwolves Ready To Trade Jimmy Butler In Right Deal, Several NBA Teams Interested

Jimmy Butler Minnesota Timberwolves — Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on October 30, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

When Jimmy Butler requested to be traded, it was reported that head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau was not interested in dealing the shooting guard. That no longer appears to be the case, and the Minnesota Timberwolves seem more than willing to accept the right offer.

Speaking with reporters at media day Monday afternoon, Thibodeau discussed Butler’s trade request, acknowledging that the team is open to making a trade that works for them.

“Our job is to seek out the best opportunity for us,” Thibodeau said, via Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “If something's good for us, then we're interested in doing it. If not, we're ready to move forward the other way.”

Jimmy Butler took his physical today in Minnesota. Thibs says he could be a week away from being ready to play.

"We're not going to make a bad deal," Thibs said. "If it's a good deal, we're interested."
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) September 24, 2018

Thibs: "When you look at who Jimmy is, he’s a top 10 player in the league. We’re not going to make a bad deal. Glen, scott and myself I think we’ve made that clear"
— RandBall (@RandBall) September 24, 2018

Thibodeau made it clear all teams are in play with a trade, not just the three (Clippers, Knicks and Nets) on Butler's reported wish list. “We have to do what’s best for us. It may not be a team you feel like you wanted to go to.”
— RandBall (@RandBall) September 24, 2018

Butler informed Minnesota that he preferred to join the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Clippers are at the top of Butler’s list. Butler is set to be a free agent in 2019, and all three teams have the cap space necessary to offer him a max contract.

Thibodeau noted that Butler could be traded to a team other than the Clippers, Knicks or Nets. According to Wojnarowski, the Miami Heat have been the most aggressive team in pursuit of Butler. Miami is currently well over the salary cap and not expected to be in a position to offer a sizeable contract to any free agent next summer.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have also pursued a deal for Butler, according to Wojnarowski. Shortly after LeBron James left Cleveland for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs signed Kevin Love to a long-term extension. The Cavs are looking to make the playoffs instead of rebuilding after losing the NBA’s best player.

Wojnarowski included the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers among teams that haven’t made serious offers for Butler but are interested in speaking with Minnesota about a potential deal.

Butler might be headed out of Minnesota before the start of the 2018-2019 NBA season, but Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t going anywhere soon. The former No.1 overall draft pick agreed to a five-year, $190 million contract with the Timberwolves over the weekend.

Andrew Wiggins signed a five-year, $147.7 million contract extension with Minnesota last October.

With both Wiggins and Towns, Minnesota went 31-51 in the 2016-2017 season and missed the playoffs for the 13th straight year. Butler helped the Timberwolves go 47-35 last year before losing to the Rockets in the first round of the postseason.

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