Jimmy Butler is still a Minnesota Timberwolves player, though it still seems like a matter of time that he gets traded elsewhere. The situation in Minnesota is clearly untenable, though if you ask Andrew Wiggins, everything is fine!
The problem right now appears to be that the Timberwolves are simply asking too much from teams for Butler. That’s what reportedly scared away the Miami Heat earlier in October, and it might be that the Timberwolves hold pat despite an offer from Houston that includes four first round draft picks. But The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Friday that Houston might have good reason to wait a bit longer on making a decision on Butler.
Charania appeared on Stadium Friday morning to give an update on the situation, and the word is that Minnesota sees little reason to get this done anytime soon, especially with Houston’s latest offer.
Minnesota is showing no inclination to move on Houston offer of two injured players and four first-rounders for Jimmy Butler, per sources. On @WatchStadium: pic.twitter.com/NnXkMwXd9N
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 26, 2018
Charania points out that Houston’s reported offer includes two injured players — Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss — and there’s no real timetable for them to get healthy. That would leave Minnesota without an impact player coming back right now, something Tom Thibodeau probably isn’t a big fan of.
And then there’s those picks, which are first rounders but very unlikely to be lottery picks given that Houston is a team with the reigning NBA MVP on the roster and, with this deal, would add Butler to the mix.
“Now remember, those four first-round picks, for a really good team — which you’d assume they become with Jimmy Butler in the fold with Chris Paul and James Harden — those would convey really to picks in the 20s,” Charania pointed out. “So for Minnesota, there’s no incentive for them to trade a top 10, top 15 caliber all-star player for assets that you will probably not convey over the next year.”
The Athletic reporter said there’s “no real strong package of players and picks” out there for Minnesota right now, but not all hope is lost. Charania said that might mean other teams like Miami or Philadelphia could make something work if Houston’s offer does, indeed, get shelved. And so nothing is immediate with the Butler Saga, which seems likely to stretch into a third month.
