If Jimmy Butler has his way, the Minnesota Timberwolves will trade him to one of three teams: Brooklyn, New York, or Los Angeles. Usually when that last city gets thrown out, it’s because a player wants to move to the Lakers. Instead, Butler would prefer it if the Timberwolves would make him a Clipper.
It’s possible that Butler ends up in the purple and gold, anyway, as Minnesota could trade him wherever it wants due to his lack of a no-trade clause. But it is fascinating how Butler wants to go to the squad that is viewed by many as the “other” team in Los Angeles, which begs the question: why?
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, it might stem from Butler’s desire to go somewhere where he would be the man. In the case of the Lakers, it turns out getting LeBron James might have cost them an opportunity to get Butler.
“He is enamored with the idea of playing a central role in a big market, sources said,” Wojnarowski said in the report. “Butler had once imagined playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but LeBron James’ arrival as the franchise’s cornerstone made it less appealing for Butler in the prime of his career, league sources said.”
This will certainly appeal Butler to those who dislike superteams and want to see superstars battle other superstars rather than team up with them, even if putting him and James on the same team would be an absolute blast. Perhaps the Lakers swing for the fences and trade for him, hoping that they can convince him to sign an extension this summer and join forces with James for the next few years. And if it doesn’t? Well, they still have LeBron James, so things could be much, much worse.
