Every Possible Jimmy Butler Trade — and Four that Actually Work

30 (yes, 30!) Butler trade ideas, and why Philadelphia, Miami, or Toronto makes the most sense

Jimmy Butler is getting traded soon. That much seems clear. Nobody knows where or when, but it certainly appears we’ve seen Butler in a Minnesota Timberwolves uniform for the last time. The trade could come any day now, and it could come before you’re done reading this if you’re not careful.

There are a few major hurdles to a Butler trade that need to be considered in any potential offer:

1. Butler’s expiring contract — Butler has made it clear he wants to head to a big market, and it’s hard to give up too much for a one-year rental you may not be able to sign.
2. Minnesota wants to contend — And they’re going to give up the best player in any trade, so it makes it tough to find a match. For the record, I’d punt on the year now that KAT is signed and rebuild long-term for a post Warriors era, but I have no sense they’re willing to do that.
3. Salary matching — Any deal will have to match salaries pretty closely. Available veterans probably cost more than Butler, and young assets don’t add up, so it really limits options on most teams. I considered perpetually-injured Justin Patton a salary throw-in if needed. Gorgui Dieng is a negative asset on his salary. Taj Gibson is the only real palatable salary that can be added to a deal without lessening what a team will give, so he’s included in many of the proposed trades as a useful expiring salary.
4. The timing — It’s awful. Thanks again, Jimmy. Minnesota is in a rush to get any deal done, so they may not get a team’s best offer. And any team trading for Butler has to seriously consider what it will do for their team’s chemistry on the cusp of the season, since a Butler deal totally changes the complexion of any roster. That could set team chemistry back months. Plus, a number of interesting trade chips can’t be moved until December or January, so that limits things even further.
5. Minnesota may not know which young assets it likes — If Wolves owner Glen Taylor really is the one taking these trade calls, that’s a problem. Owners aren’t GMs, and they don’t know how to properly value young players since they haven’t spent the last few years studying their development. Minnesota needs to save face by getting back a valuable young player, but there’s no reason to believe Taylor has any great idea which young players he should be targeting.

There’s a good chance this deal goes south for Minnesota. Teams rarely get equal value when trading a star, and the team has cornered itself with timing, salary matching, and lack of GM knowledge. It’s a recipe for disaster. The Wolves seem likely to rush a deal, and that favors any team getting Butler.

So let’s go around the league with 30 — yes, 30 — potential Butler deals, ranked in order from least to most likely. If Butler’s getting traded soon, and he is, the skeleton of the deal is probably below. There’s one trade scenario for almost every team, and the three best fits are out East, just not in New York, like Jimmy prefers. Let’s make a deal.

NOPE, NOT GONNA HAPPEN

Detroit — Butler/Patton for Drummond

Butler makes sense in Detroit, but there’s no trade fit. The Pistons would want to keep Blake and Dre to play with him, and they don’t really have any good salaries or young pieces to move in a deal unless the Wolves want to move KAT to the four next to Drummond.

Los Angeles Lakers — Butler for KCP/Beasley/Kuzma

Ironically, L.A. cutting Deng left them no real avenue here. If they wouldn’t give up Lonzo or Ingram for Kawhi, they’re not doing it for Butler (and shouldn’t), so this is their best offer and it sucks. Plus they can’t trade Beasley til December 15 and KCP has trade veto power too, so nope.

Orlando — Butler for Gordon

I love this for Minnesota, and Orlando doesn’t seem too attached to AG. Butler might get them to the playoffs. But this deal can’t happen until January, which is too late for both.

San Antonio — Butler for Pau/Walker/pick

Butler and DDR are buds so Spurs bet on that and Pop to sell him on staying long-term. A Dejounte, DDR, Butler, Gay, LMA lineup is pretty interesting and feels a bit like a souped-up Raptors especially with Patty, White, Bertans, and Poeltl off the bench. This is a pretty weak return for Minnesota though, unless they’re in love with Lonnie Walker (or Dejounte).

Utah — Butler for Ingles/Thabo

A third star for the Jazz! This looks interesting on paper, unless you’ve actually watched Utah and know how much Ingles does for them.

Sacramento — Butler/Patton for Bagley/Skal/Shumpert

The Wolves get two shots at a young star to play next to KAT. The Kings get… shrug emoji?? Who knows what the Kings want, honestly?

Golden State — Butler for Iguodala/Bell

Steph, Klay, Jimmy, KD, Draymond with Boogie off the bench. Burn it all down.

BETTER, BUT NO

Cleveland — Butler for Love Cleveland — Butler/Patton for Sexton/Osman/Tristan

Neither makes sense. Love fits next to KAT but Minnesota’s not bringing him back and Cleveland isn’t trading for Butler and giving away their best win-now player, plus that deal can’t happen until January anyway. Without Love in a deal, Cleveland would have to include Tristan, J.R., or George Hill. None of them fit. Minnesota chose Teague over Hill last summer and there’s no role for Tristan or J.R. There’s also not much room to develop Sexton with Teague, Rose, and Tyus around, and he’s the only young chip of value. No fit here.

Boston — Butler/Taj for Hayward/Theis

Butler fits better than Hayward and would make the Celtics a menace defensively with him, Tatum, and Jaylen on the court together, and Butler’s presence might push him and Kyrie to stay long-term. All great in theory. But Brad Stevens didn’t bring his guy Hayward in and wait all season to trade him away, and Boston probably can’t afford max deals for both Kyrie and Jimmy long-term. No reason for Boston to blow up what’s clearly working.

Denver — Butler/Taj for Millsap/Porter Denver — Butler for Gary Harris

The Nuggets hang up on the Harris offer. The other they might consider. A lineup with Murray, Harris, Butler, Taj and Jokic is interesting and balanced, and don’t forget IT and Barton off the bench. In a year without the Ws and Rox, that might be worth going in for. But Michael Porter Jr. is a steep price to pay for one feisty second-round exit before Denver probably can’t keep Butler or Taj going forward. If MPJ is more of a long-shot wild card, maybe they try it.

Portland — Butler/Taj for McCollum/Leonard

C.J. McCollum is a popular swap, but I don’t buy it. Where is Portland going with Dame, Butler, Harkless, Aminu and Nurkic? Doesn’t seem much better than what they have now, just change for the sake of change.

Houston — Butler for Gordon/Tucker

Daryl Morey loves adding stars. But CP3, Harden, Butler, Melo, Capela is an All-Star team gone wrong with zero depth and no money to keep Butler long-term. Houston gets worse in this deal. Not every star is worth trading for.

GETTING WARMER…

Charlotte — Butler/Patton for Batum/Bridges

Batum fits a little better in Minnesota and extends the window a bit, and Bridges is an interesting fit next to KAT. Charlotte dumps Batum’s contract and makes a playoff push with Kemba and Butler before letting both walk in a reset. Is that worth losing Miles Bridges? The first-round playoff exit isn’t, but getting off Batum’s salary at the same time might be worth considering. There is a less-than-zero chance of Butler re-signing in Charlotte.

Memphis — Butler/Taj for Parsons/JJJ/Rabb

Minnesota completely punts on this season and eats $49 million of Parsons salary while giving up Butler, all for Jaren Jackson Jr.? Probably not, but goodness would he be the perfect fit on this team. Memphis goes in hard on a veteran roster of Conley, Butler, SloMo, Taj and Gasol and makes a run at the 3-seed or IR, whichever comes first. It’ll never happen, but that won’t stop this Minnesota fan from dreaming about a JJJ/KAT pairing anyway.

Milwaukee — Butler for Middleton/Thon/Sterling Brown

Another popular swap, with both Middleton and Butler in the final year of their deals. I’m not sure it does much for either team. Milwaukee gets better defensively but loses Middelton’s shooting, and you risk Butler and Giannis not playing well together. Minnesota just gets a little worse and then probably can’t pay Middleton anyway. The Bucks also can’t add an upcoming pick and probably don’t want to include extra young pieces but would have to for salary matching. Milwaukee might like their chances at keeping Butler, who played college at nearby Marquette, but it’s about the opposite of a big market.

BUTLER’S PICKS

Brooklyn — Butler/Patton for DeMarre/Dudley/LeVert/pick Brooklyn — Butler for Russell/Faried/pick

The Nets are one of Butler’s three preferred destination, but it’s hard to find the right fit unless Minnesota loves Caris LeVert or D’Angelo Russell. Russell is due a big pay raise next summer, and that deal sinks any Minnesota playoff hopes this year for a soon-to-be-expensive player that may not fit. The first deal fits better. DeMarre Carroll and Jared Dudley probably approximate 80% of Butler’s value this season and keep Minnesota in contention for the playoffs. But is the 24-year-old LeVert a good enough long-term asset? How about the pick, probably in the 12 to 16 range? Brooklyn has little to lose here, but there’s just not enough in it for Minnesota.

New York — Butler for Noah/Knox New York — Butler for Kanter/Ntilikina/Robinson

The Knicks are on the cusp of waiving and stretching Noah, but this instead saves them over $6 million in cap room the next three years. It also gives them a star to pair with Porzingis, plus cap room for Kyrie or a third star next summer. New York swears it won’t trade picks or youth for a player they can sign next year for free, and that makes sense after the Carmelo Anthony debacle. But getting off the Noah deal too? That might be worth the ticket.

Kanter is expiring anyway, so he’s just a salary match. That takes a lot of incentive away from the Knicks, who probably won’t give up Kevin Knox or their pick at that point. Would they give up Frank Ntilikina and Mitchell Robinson? Even that is doubtful. The Knox deal makes more sense. It’s a fair price to pay to get off Noah and land Butler, and Knox is probably one of the best realistic young assets Minnesota could get. But New York swears it’s sitting this one out.

Los Angeles Clippers — Butler for Tobias/Shai Los Angeles Clippers — Butler/Patton for Gallinari/Beverley Los Angeles Clippers — Butler for Bradley/Shai/Jawun

A Clippers deal probably has to include Tobias Harris or Danilo Gallinari. Gallo fits well offensively but would make Minnesota worse than ever on defense, and two years left on his deal plus his injury history make him a questionable asset. Harris is a very good player who fits well with the Wolves. Bradley can’t be traded until January, and it’s tough to match salaries without one of those three.

Gallinari and Beverley might be one of the best fits for Minnesota looking to contend this year, especially if Thibs sticks around. But they may not make it anyway, especially after improving a direct contender for the same playoff spots, and they get absolutely nothing long-term. It’s not enough. But Harris and SGA is too much for the Clippers. It’s arguably their two best assets, and SGA is a quintessential Jerry West player so it’s tough to see him moving on for a player he can sign next summer. Maybe something in between is right. Maybe Gallo and Shai, or maybe Harris and Jerome Robinson? The Clippers have a lot of malleable parts (though they can’t trade their pick), so you can come up with a lot of deals. They can most easily provide a package of veterans Minnesota will be familiar with. I hope for the Wolves’ sake that’s not the package they’re looking for.

THE FOUR BEST FITS

Washington — Butler/Patton for Otto Porter

Something hasn’t been working in Washington, so maybe they’d mix it up. Wall, Beal, Butler, Kieff and Dwight? Woof, that locker room, but that’s never stopped the Wiz before. Minnesota gets a talent downgrade but a much better fit, both by age and timeline as well as role. Would the Wizards be interested? Honestly, who knows.

Philadelphia — Butler for Chandler/Fultz Philadelphia — Butler for Covington/Bayless/Zhaire

The Sixers make a lot of sense, if they think Butler can put them over the top. Imagine a Simmons Redick Butler Saric Embiid lineup. It’s unlike anything else in the league, and Philly gets that second handler they clearly lacked in the playoffs last year. It depends on how much Simmons and Embiid step forward this year, but the Sixers could absolutely make the Finals with that team. Would they give up Fultz to do it? Seems unlikely. Wilson Chandler is solid, and upgrading to Butler for one year isn’t enough to merit giving up on the #1 pick already.

The second deal is pretty interesting. Covington may not fit well long-term in Philly anyway, and Bayless is dead weight salary. They keep Fultz and Chandler to come off the bench, and if Butler works out, they tap into a lineup of Simmons Fultz Butler Saric Embiid the next few years with handlers and defenders at every position. Zhaire Smith is injured and might be tough to include in a deal, but he’s the top young asset available if Fultz is off the table. It would be tough for Minnesota to beat Covington and Zhaire, and it feels like just about the right price if Philly wants to take a gamble.

Miami — Butler/Taj for Bloodsport/Richardson/Winslow/McGruder Miami — Butler for Bloodsport/Winslow/pick Miami — Butler/Dieng/Patton for Whiteside/Richardson/Winslow

Like the Clippers, the Heat have a lot of pieces that make a deal possible, including two players in Josh Richardson and Justise Winslow that are very good Butler analogs in a Minnesota return. Winslow is on the last year of his rookie deal and is expendable with Butler in town. Richardson is anything but expendable and probably the team’s best player, so you have to imagine they’d like to keep him.

The Heat probably prefer to trade Whiteside first, but imagining him in the Minnesota cold and next to KAT sounds like a horrible fit for everyone. Minnesota gets off the Dieng salary, and Dieng may fit better in Miami than Whiteside anyway. It feels like James Johnson is a better fit for the Wolves. He and Winslow may not be enough to get the job done, especially since Bloodsport is older and on a possibly negative contract. A combination of Bloodsport, JRich, and Winslow is a pretty great package for Minnesota, all things considered.

Miami finally gets their star — but at what price? The Heat roll out a Dragic Wade Butler Taj Whiteside lineup, which feels like the 2016 Bulls all over again, and that’s not a compliment. Add in the interesting bench with Tyler Johnson, Ellington, Olynyk, and Bam and Miami could probably matchup and hang with any Eastern team, but they can already do that. If I were Miami, I wouldn’t give up Josh Richardson in a Butler deal. And if I’m Minnesota, I’m not trading Butler without getting JRich. He might be the deal breaker.

Toronto — Butler/Dieng for Ibaka/Green/Delon

This feels like the most likely trade to me. Minnesota gets off Dieng’s salary and gets a player they’ve long coveted in Ibaka, who fits perfectly next to KAT. Danny Green defends and shoots without needing the ball much, and Delon Wright is an outstanding defender. This is the deal Minnesota makes if they want to keep Thibs and keep contending this year. Teague, Green, Wiggins, Ibaka and KAT plus Rose, Delon, Deng and Taj off the bench? Yeah that’ll play, and it’ll certainly sate Thibs for the year.

As for Toronto, it’s a price that makes sense. Unlike most of the other teams above, the Raptors don’t have to worry about a late change in team chemistry since they’re already starting fresh with Kawhi Leonard. And take a look at this dirty defensive lineup they could roll out: Lowry, Butler, OG, Kawhi and Siakim. That team would be filthy to score against, and they still have FVV, Norm, C.J. Miles, Dieng, and Valanciunas off the bench and/or in the right matchups. Toronto would have an even better chance at making the Finals, and they’d be able to throw Butler, Kawhi and OG at the Warriors if they get there. You have to admit… that’s interesting.

Long-term, Toronto gets off Ibaka’s salary and gives up two guys they probably can’t keep next year anyway. If Kawhi and Jimmy both leave, the experiment failed and they can seamlessly transition into a rebuild. But this gives them two possible stars to build around, even if one chooses to leave. And maybe both stay, especially if they make a Finals run. The cost is pretty easy for Toronto to swallow, and it’s an easy sell for Thibs and the Timberwolves.

With the season set to tip and so much in the balance, this just might be the best Butler deal out there.

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