Jimmy Butler trade rumors: 10 potential landing spots

2. New York Knicks

Like the Nets, the New York Knicks are a major-market team in the Big Apple near the top of Jimmy Butler’s wish list. Sitting pretty at No. 2, this team could be the ideal destination for both Butler and Kyrie Irving next summer, especially since they reportedly plan on linking up and Irving is a top target on New York’s radar.

The biggest obstacle would be New York waiting until next summer to just sign him outright, rather than giving up assets now to have the inside track to re-sign him.

With that being said, if they traded for him now, they could offer him a five-year, $190 million extension. That dwarfs the four-year, $141 million deal they could offer him in free agency next summer without trading for him first.

Butler’s cap hold could limit New York’s spending power if they were to trade for him, so shedding salary (Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, etc.) would be crucial. However, given Thibodeau’s well-documented love for his former Bulls, maybe the Timberwolves could take care of that problem ….

Frank Ntilikina is obviously the centerpiece of the deal as a defensive stalwart who can play both backcourt positions, while New York’s 2019 first-rounder might be even more valuable. However, as much as we joke about Noah and Thibodeau and former Bulls, even Thibs wouldn’t be that stubborn (right?).

If that’s the case, and Noah’s baggage is a nonstarter, another option to balance salaries would be including Tim Hardaway Jr. instead. He’s on a vastly inflated contract, but he’s a decent wing scorer and is a better player than he showed in his first season back in the Big Apple.

If that kind of long-term deal isn’t of interest, a 3-and-D veteran like Courtney Lee might make the most sense. In both of these deals, where taking on Noah’s massive salary isn’t required, the first-rounder would be downgraded to a pick swap.

Though he’ll turn 33 in October, Lee is the kind of two-way veteran Thibs would love to put at the 2 alongside Wiggins. He shot 40.6 percent from 3 last year, and between him and Ntilikina, the Wolves would have a more respectable defense for the short-term and the long-term.

For the Knicks, losing Ntilikina’s potential would sting, but it’d be more than worth it to field a core of Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Kevin Knox, with the potential to sign Kyrie Irving or another star free agent over the summer.

Giving up assets for a guy they could sign outright can be a tough pill to swallow, but if the Knicks want to add two stars rather than one, this is their best bet.