If Phoenix Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough believes that he is in a position to take a risk, Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Jimmy Butler could be the star worth taking a risk on.
In what seemed to be a match made in heaven, the marriage between the Minnesota Timberwolves and star Jimmy Butler has been friction-filled and seems to have come to a head, potentially even a bitter end.
For a franchise like the Phoenix Suns who have been dying to acquire a star through trade or free agency since Ryan McDonough took over as General Manager, whiffing on every single attempt, both public and otherwise, the Suns remain desperate to acquire one.
Jimmy Butler could be another player in a line of available stars that McDonough could attempt to take a swing at, and if acquired, could change the fortunes of the franchise for many years to come.
If McDonough were to call Timberwolves brass to inquire, I feel secure in the statement that the ‘Wolves would ask for a package that surrounded a star/potential star. Obviously if they asked for Devin Booker or Deandre Ayton, McDonough’s phone would be hung up before any addendums to the trade could be discussed.
Josh Jackson though might too be offered.
To that, I still say no.
The risk of Butler either bringing his locker room issues to Phoenix or cutting and running in the summer of 2019 is a risk too great, and if Jackson does end up developing into a star while Butler is off playing something else, that will have been a price far too high to have paid.
However, T.J. Warren would be an acceptable piece to offer, a player who is good and young (25-years-old), and a starter on almost every team in the league already. Warren’s first veteran contract will kick in at the start of this season, a very affordable contract set at four-years and $50 million.
Minnesota would be taking a risk in acquiring Warren to replace Butler in that he likely is not going to be a star in the NBA, however, with his contract and scoring ability, they still would have the opportunity to acquire a star elsewhere, while having Warren still on the roster, very affordable and productive.
Phoenix could then offer a first round pick of their own, which I would personally demand to be lottery protected.
Yes, Jimmy Butler is a star, but for a player who is currently having issues with his franchise, and who is a free agent after this season, I cannot imagine that any other team would offer more than one quality starter and a protected first round pick.
Obviously, the Suns would immediately become playoff competitive. Pairing Butler up with Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Josh Jackson, Phoenix would have their two true stars with two up-and-comers makes them much better than they were last year,
But then there is another factor that could guide Phoenix into pulling of a trade: Kyrie Irving.
The Phoenix Suns courted the idea of trading for and acquiring Irving two seasons ago, however they decided not to go through with a deal because the package would have involved the then fourth overall pick (which eventually ended up being Josh Jackson), coupled with the risk that Irving could jump ship during 2019 free agency.
Today, there is still talk that Kyrie might not be happy in Boston, that he might look elsewhere following this season, and until he signs a contract extension (which he has stated he will not do until after the 2018-19 season), he could potentially be had for a max contract through free agency.
What if after acquiring Jimmy Butler, he too decided to stay in Phoenix, and enticed Kyrie to join him. Everybody thought that Paul George was leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder and heading West to play with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, but instead re-signed.
The possibility then with Butler might be remote, although not without precedence.
Of course, at that point the acquisition of Kyrie would have to be through a sign-and-trade so Josh Jackson would undoubtedly be gone as he would be at the heart of that package back to Boston (how ironic would that be?), but the foursome of Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker, Jimmy Butler, and Deandre Ayton would scare the pants off of almost everybody in the league, save for maybe only the Golden State Warriors – and even they would have to recognize the talent of the Phoenix Suns roster.
Would Kyrie want to come West and face LeBron James four times a year, potentially able to win up to four games plus playoff series’?
Sure, that last part is all 100% hypothetical and probably entirely a pipe dream.
But hey, dreams a free, and the reality of it is that there is always a chance – but only if they decide to pull off a trade for Jimmy Butler now, and start the process of winning.