Jimmy Butler reportedly wants a change of scenery. Here are top reasons he should demand to be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Memphis Grizzlies have two legitimate stars and a solid supporting cast. However, in order to be a contender in the Western Conference, a third star is needed. Could Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler be that third big piece?
On Wednesday afternoon, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania broke news about Butler wanting to part ways with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Butler has given Minnesota a list of one-to-three teams with whom he's open to signing extension, in anticipation of trade.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 19, 2018
It has been a rollercoaster ride of sorts in Minneapolis this offseason. Jimmy Butler has been in the news multiple times, and his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns has been involved in trade rumors, too. It appears that the two studs are not fond of one another and ultimately the T-Wolves will have to choose which guy to keep. Wednesday’s news hints that Butler does not want to try to coexist any longer with Towns.
Jimmy Butler’s list of wishful destinations could not be more predictable. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the short list contains the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New York Knicks. Surprisingly, you do not see the LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers on the list. Regardless, you do not see any small market franchises on the list.
Minnesota's Jimmy Butler has three preferred destinations for a trade, league sources tell ESPN: The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks. Those three teams have max cap space to sign Butler as a free agent in July.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 19, 2018
As Wojnarowski stated in his news bit, these three particular teams will have the salary cap space to go after Jimmy Butler in 2019’s NBA Free-Agency period. It would not make much sense for them to give a lot of assets now in order to snag a player that may willingly join them when his contract comes due.
With as big of a rift that has been created within the Minnesota Timberwolves organization, they are in a pinch. Training camp starts next week. One of their top-two players is clearly disgruntled and wants out immediately. The other top player — Karl Towns — is probably not in the happiest of spirits either.
Why wait to lose Jimmy Butler in Free-Agency next summer? If the Timberwolves play the smart card, they will deal their star wing for the best available package right now. If they fail to do so, their season could be derailed by ongoing locker room turmoil.
Enough is enough. Minnesota needs to generate trade discussions with the Memphis Grizzlies. From Jimmy Butler’s perspective, he should want to include the Grizzlies in his preferred list of destinations. Here is why.