The L.A. Clippers can still enter the Jimmy Butler trade sweepstakes if they offer the Minnesota Timberwolves a bigger package than they already have, according to Five Reasons Sports Network.
The Miami Heat and Houston Rockets are the two teams most engaged in talks with the Timberwolves regarding Butler, but that can change if the Clippers come in and up their offer.
Two other league sources have told @5ReasonsSports that the Heat and Rockets were the teams most engaged in trade conversations with the Wolves to that point. There is also a belief the Clippers could change the equation if they offer more. Mostly, teams are waiting on Thibodeau.
— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) September 28, 2018
When this whole Jimmy Butler saga began, reports stated the four-time All-Star preferred a trade to the Clippers. However, new reports are claiming Butler now wants to play for the Miami Heat. This whole situation has dragged on for too long, though, so Butler is probably fine with going anywhere at this point. He can become an unrestricted free agent in 2019 if he declines his player option for the 2019-20 season, and is looking to sign a max contract worth over $180 million.
If the Clippers want to acquire Butler, any trade package would have to start with swingman Tobias Harris, the team's best player. Throw in Avery Bradley and Patrick Beverley, two of the best wing defenders in the NBA, and Timberwolves head coach/president Tom Thibodeau might finally accept a trade for Butler, who has averaged at least 20 points per game four seasons in a row.
Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from beyond the 3-point line. He suffered a torn right meniscus in late February and underwent surgery. He did return near the end of the season and helped the Timberwolves make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Minnesota lost to the Houston Rockets in the first-round in five games and Butler didn't fly back on the team plane.
The Clippers will have cap space to sign two max players in the summer of 2019. Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard, who can also become a free agent next offseason, is rumored to be interested in signing with the Clippers should he leave Toronto after one season. Butler reportedly wants to play in a big market where he will be able to recruit other star players to play with him. Los Angeles is the hot spot to do that.
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