While Jimmy Butler‘s three-team wish list of preferred trade destinations includes the Knicks, his interest in New York has been overstated, per USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt (Twitter link).
Zillgitt notes that Butler’s main goal is to compete sooner than later, and joining a Knicks team in rebuild mode does not accomplish that. Butler’s list also includes the Nets and Clippers, but more teams have since been reported as possible destinations. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Pistons, Rockets, Heat, Sixers and Trail Blazers also have interest. Also, the Cavaliers have entered the sweepstakes.
Knicks brass has been adamant that the organization will not deviate from its plan to not trade young players and draft picks. Acquiring Butler, a 29-year-old All-Star, would require both.
Check out more Atlantic Division notes:
- Celtics star Gordon Hayward is expected to sign a multi-year sneaker deal, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Hayward, who missed nearly all of last season after a freak ankle injury, Hayward has reportedly been pursued by several major companies, including Nike, New Balance and the Chinese company Anta.
- Sixers guard Markelle Fultz has worked hard on improving his jump shot and is ready to make an impact this season, writes Rich Hofmann of The Athletic (subscription required). “This summer was really just me working to get my mechanics back, my confidence back, my swagger back,” Fultz said.
- The Raptors signed Fred VanVleet quickly after free agency opened this summer, keeping a vital part of Toronto’s bench. Blake Murphy of The Athletic (subscription required) examines the process and VanVleet’s new contract.
Gordon Hayward should sign a deal with an ankle brace brand.
Butler is walking back his shortlist. He should not have specified one in the first place and is realizing that now. Irving did, so he did too.
But because of the teams named, it made him look greedy rather than investible, because they are bottom-half teams with income opportunities.
The timing of the Knick’s announcement is interesting. The day before Butler announces a shortlist that includes NYK, NYK says they will not make such a trade. Hmm. I suspect they heard about it before we did.
I further wonder if the date of the Butler-Taylor-Thibs meet was moved back to overshadow the announcement of the Dallas FO investigation.
Why would the meeting have been pushed back to cover the Dallas investigation? How does one have anything to do with the other? There is no chance the league called Taylor and said “hey Glenn, we need you to push back your Butler meeting to the day we make our decision as to the punishment in the Mavs investigation so that your news can overshadow ours”.
Butler to Toronto, you heard it here. Toronto gets Butler, and the likelihood that he and Claw resign there is much bigger than if it’s only Kawhi in the Big Smoke.
The meeting date was pushed back one day, 9/17mon to 9/18tue I think. I did not see a reason reported. Link below
The NBA would naturally prefer the Dallas employee harrassment story not be a big one.
Miami Herald says if they can get Butler, and they want to, they think they can get Butler to sign an extension in Miami. Would like to trade without using Bam Adebayo or Josh Richardson. Also read Butler may not fit in Philadelphia because he might not get along with Simmons and Embiid. That and Butler is a 34% career 3 point shooter, which they don’t need.
Read Lakers would have to include Ball or Ingram, so they are out.
what happens when fultz/lonzo play against westbrook, dame, curry, kyrie, cp3, etc..?
link to cbssports.com