Butler puts Thibodeau on the spot with reported trade request
If it's true the best trades help both teams, then there should be no joy in Bulls land that Tom Thibodeau might be feeling buyer's remorse right now.
Thibodeau met with former Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler in Los Angeles Wednesday, followed by reports Butler asked to be traded from Minnesota. Just over a year ago, the Bulls sent Butler to the Timberwolves for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the draft pick that became Lauri Markkanen. At the moment, it looks like a pretty good deal for the Bulls.
The timing of Butler's request is odd, coming less than a week before training camp opens. There were reports during the season that Butler didn't appreciate younger teammates Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. The Timberwolves did manage, barely, to end a 13-year playoff drought.
Last year, Kyrie Irving's request to leave Cleveland was made public in late July and he was sent to Boston Aug. 30. So this is something Butler could have done a couple months ago.
Regardless, the ball is now in Thibodeau's court. The Timberwolves don't have to trade Butler, but he will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, so the choice is basically get something in return now or get nothing later.
Butler's wish list reportedly includes three large-market teams - the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Keep in mind, he could go anywhere. Kawhi Leonard asked to be traded to the Lakers or Clippers and ended up in Toronto. Butler will be looking for something close to the maximum five-year, $190 million deal from his new team next summer.
The three teams listed could all have the cap space to sign a second free agent. Is Butler plotting to meet up with Irving, who can opt out of his deal next summer? There was speculation Butler and Irving talked about playing together when they were Olympic teammates in 2016.
Looking for a trade that could work, the Knicks may be the least likely target. Assuming they are unwilling to give up Kristaps Porzingis, that leaves recent draft picks Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina as the best trade bait. Brooklyn doesn't have many young assets beyond D'Angelo Russell to send back to Minnesota.
The Clippers could redirect their Blake Griffin haul of Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley to the Timberwolves. Such a move might make more sense for Minnesota, but Harris is also headed toward free agency and would have to play out of position next to Wiggins.
A couple of teams not on Butler's wish list that could have interest are Philadelphia (Markelle Fultz and Robert Covington?) or Miami (Dion Waiters and Josh Richardson?). The Lakers appear to be waiting for next summer to add a second star to LeBron James, and Butler is no higher than third on the wish list behind Kevin Durant and Leonard.
Don't expect Butler to return to the Bulls. There was friction with management before last year's trade and the Bulls are committed to building for the future. Maybe later in his career it would be possible.
Butler is an emotional guy who completed an amazing rise from an unrecruited, sometimes homeless teenager to a marketable NBA All-Star. His work ethic endeared him to Chicago fans, but he also seemed to carry a "Why don't my teammates work as hard as I do" attitude. That caused problems sometimes in the Bulls locker room and might explain his distrust of Towns and Wiggins.
There's no hurry here. Thibodeau basically has until the February trade deadline to decide what's best for the Timberwolves. But if Butler is making it clear his future is not in Minnesota, something needs to be done.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls