The Phoenix Suns might be in on the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes, not to land Butler, but to acquire a point guard as a third team in the deal.
Jimmy Butler wants out of Minnesota after just one year with the Timberwolves. It’s been an all around strange process from the beginning.
First it was rumored that Butler was unhappy playing with Karl-Anthony Towns, which he later disputed. Then it was reported that Butler had met with management about his future with the team, to which Butler retorted that his meeting was actually scheduled for the next day. And that’s when he officially asked the team to trade him.
Butler gave the Wolves a list of three teams he’d like to be traded to: the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets. But even after Butler said he wouldn’t sign an extension and wanted to be moved, the team seemingly decided they wouldn’t trade him, and reports surfaced that coach Tom Thibodeau would rather step down than lose his best player.
Over the next few days, things started to clear up a bit, and it now seems like the team is open to dealing Butler. However, there haven’t been any serious rumors of trade talks thus far, indicating there’s still some dissonance amongst members of Timberwolves management.
However, there was a report that came out this morning, and it mentioned the Phoenix Suns.
Sources: In addition to the Sacramento Kings getting involved in helping facilitate a Jimmy Butler trade, the Phoenix Suns are open to jumping in as well. Phoenix will get involved if they can return a point guard in a three-team trade.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 25, 2018
The Phoenix Suns aren’t likely to (and definitely should not) make a play for Jimmy Butler. But they could be a third team to help facilitate the trade and land a point guard in the process. That point guard could very well be Goran Dragic.
The Miami Heat, although not a part of Butler’s list of preferred destinations, are considered a front runner in the Butler sweepstakes. The trade would likely include Hassan Whiteside, a guy the Wolves should have absolutely no interest putting next to their young star in Towns. But hey, anything is possible from a Timberwolves front office that decided Andrew Wiggins was worth a max contract.
If the Miami Heat are the team to deal for Butler, the Phoenix Suns could jump in to give them the last few assets they need to get the job done. Minnesota has a young team, and they might look to add the Milwaukee Bucks protected first round pick from the Suns as part of the deal. In return, Dragic would go to Phoenix.
Whether or not Dragic is worth the pick is debatable. But from the rumor came out today, the Miami Heat guard returning to Phoenix seems like a real possibility.