The Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in trading for Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Jimmy Butler, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was seen talking privately with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor at the NBA Board of Governors meeting this past Friday. Both owners played a part in negotiating the Kevin Love-Andrew Wiggins trade which occurred back in 2014.

Butler, a four-time All-Star, has requested a trade from Minnesota. Media day is Sept. 24 and Butler won't be present. The 6-foot-7 swingman averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season while shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from 3-point distance.

He will make $20.44 million this season and is seeking a five-year deal worth around $190 million when he enters the open market. Butler can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019 if he declines his 2019-20 player option.

The Cavs don't really have the assets to acquire Butler, one of the elite two-way players in the game. Cleveland's best player is Love, but the Cavs can't trade him until six months after the date he signed his extension. Love reached a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Cavs on July 24.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Paolo Banchero & Franz Wagner together with Donovan Mitchell & Evan Mobley in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with the 2024 NBA Playoffs logo.

Julian Ojeda ·

Naz Reid with an X in front of him. Front and center is Mike Conley and to the left Chris Finch

Sheldon Wohlman ·

Miami Heat stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro next to Chicago Bulls stars Coby White and DeMar DeRozan in front of the Kaseya Center.

Zachary Weinberger ·

Since there is no guarantee Butler will stay in Cleveland long-term, it makes no sense for the Cavs to trade rookie point guard Collin Sexton. Sexton is the future in Cleveland, and Gilbert and general manager Koby Altman would be making a huge mistake parting ways with him for a potential rental player in Butler.

The Cavs have tried to move guard J.R. Smith and sharpshooter Kyle Korver this summer, but haven't had much luck finding a deal which works for them.

Jimmy Butler was linked to the Cavs last offseason too, but Kyrie Irving reportedly told him to stay away from Cleveland. Irving was eventually traded to the Boston Celtics, while the Chicago Bulls sent Butler to Minnesota.