The Minnesota Timberwolves have been actively exploring trades at the wish of owner Glen Taylor, now counting three frontrunners to become Jimmy Butler's new home — the Brooklyn Nets, L.A. Clippers, and the Miami Heat, according to Chris Sheridan of GetMoreSports. The New York Knicks are visibly missing from that list, due to their commitment to not trading assets to acquire a player, as they made known throughout Media Day — leaving them out of the equation.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski also validated this shortlist, saying those three teams (in that same exact order) would have contracts they want to shed, something the Sacramento Kings would be willing to take as a three-team trade partner in exchange for draft picks and cash compensation. The Timberwolves are also hopeful to unload Gorgui Dieng and the $48.7 million that is owed to him for the last three years of his deal.
The Nets appeared to be dormant suitors, failing to engage the Timberwolves for a trade, but it seems that has now changed — currently pursuing avenues to acquire the four-time All-Star forward before the season starts.
According to Sheridan, there are rumblings of a potential exchange for D'Angelo Russell (a close friend of Karl Anthony-Towns), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and another player or two whose salaries would make the deal work under NBA rules.
The Wolves have already committed to Karl-Anthony Towns with a five-year, $190 million deal, but still have to iron out a trade that would make owner Glen Taylor happy and make coach/president Tom Thibodeau feel safe enough, as he has been in murky waters since the start of the offseason, when Taylor started to question if his draft night gamble was worth the risk.
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