The L.A. Clippers have yet to put small forward Tobias Harris in any trade conversations with the Minnesota Timberwolves, a player that has proven a must in return for any deal involving All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Harris will be a similar cog to Josh Richardson with the Miami Heat; a must-get piece if the Wolves are to relinquish Butler in a blockbuster trade. The Clippers could potentially carve out enough space to sign another superstar to play alongside Butler, like Kawhi Leonard — but that will all hinge on who they can reel in this season.
Putting Jimmy Butler and Leonard in the same lineup would surely give the Clippers one of the best perimeter defenses in the league, a proposition that seems too sweet to refuse.
Yet Tobias Harris turned down a four-year, $80 million extension to bet on himself and warrant an even bigger contract from the Clippers as a free agent.
The New York native shot an impressive 41 percent from deep last season, a career-best, an asset the Wolves deem of massive importance, giving the poor long-range shooting from Andrew Wiggins and their dead-last ranking in 3-pointers made last season.
The Clippers had yet to be as active as the Houston Rockets or the Heat in conversations with the Timberwolves, and could fade like other outside teams, given the high demand of this Minnesota front office — hellbent on equal or larger return for Butler.
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