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The Brooklyn Nets had been dormant suitors for Minnesota Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler, failing to engage a confused and frustrating Twin Cities front office in the midst of its indecision to trade their four-time All-Star forward. Yet neither coach Kenny Atkinson nor his players are paying much attention to the rumors, letting general manager Sean Marks take care of it while they gear for training camp.
“I don’t even think of that,” Atkinson said, according to Greg Logan of Newsday. “I let Sean think of those big-picture things, especially now in training camp. I do know players change in this league, and we’ve had changes in the past.”
Recently the Nets came up as one of the three front-running teams for Butler's services, along with the L.A. Clippers and the Miami Heat — and while a few like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson spoke about the possibility of adding an elite two-way talent like Butler to the fold, most of the players have not paid the rumors much mind.
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“Honestly, guys are not really talking about it,” said swingman Allen Crabbe. “As long as I have a Brooklyn Nets jersey on, it’s about us continuing to get better and accomplishing those goals we have set for ourselves for the season.
“I feel secure and I feel like, if anything did come up, I’m pretty sure they’ll pull me aside or notify my agent. But I haven’t heard anything.”
D'Angelo Russell and Hollis-Jefferson were two of the key pieces rumored to be part of a potential deal for Butler, as the Timberwolves search for ready-made pieces to help them reach the playoffs once again after a quick exit this past season.
Brooklyn already has decent depth at point guard with Spencer Dinwiddie and adding Butler would bring a guard/forward combo that can defend multiple positions and score at a high clip after averaging 20 or more points during the last four seasons.
