OKC Thunder: 3 Jimmy Butler trades OKC can benefit from
With Jimmy Butler rumors continuously swirling, can the OKC Thunder get in on the action to help facilitate Butler’s move and benefit themselves in the process?
Two preseason games down and new look OKC Thunder sit with one win and one loss. The Thunder were particularly impressive in their most recent outing against divisional rivals the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite solid showings, Oklahoma City must fill one of three holes:
- find a strong defender on the wing to support Paul George
- acquire a reliable scorer off the bench
- trade for a long range marksman
The Thunder are in win-now mode and need to plug as many of its weaknesses as possible. Terrance Ferguson, Alex Abrines, Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot and Abdel Nader are nice pieces, but ultimately won’t be enough to bring home OKC’s maiden championship. If Oklahoma City is truly trying to win now, Sam Presti must make the necessary moves to turn dreams into a reality.
On the other hand, pressure is mounting on Tom Thibodeau and Minnesota. The Jimmy Butler soap opera continues to wage out of Minneapolis with the four-time All Star holding the Wolves by the balls. Word is Thibs is determined to keep Butler however, Minnesota owner Glen Taylor confirmed Butler will not finish the year with the team.
With that being said, two teams have been actively engaged with Minnesota’s front office – the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. While these franchises have certainly stolen the headlines, one team remains a sleeper for a deal – the Toronto Raptors. The trade for Kawhi Leonard was a stroke of genius by Raptors GM Masai Ujiri and with Toronto pushing all its chips in this season, is in position to make a play for Butler.
Reports have surfaced that Minnesota have not engaged in any three-way trades but the way things are looking, a third team might be needed to make something happen. Thibs is said to be looking for three things:
- a veteran capable of contributing now
- young player(s) to build around Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins
- lottery pick(s) in the future drafts
Are the Thunder in play for Butler? No. Oklahoma City don’t have the contracts nor necessary assets to make a splash for the 29 year-old. However, they can help facilitate a trade.
Its important to remember all trade scenario’s are hypothetical with one team generally winning the trade over another. San Antonio traded Leonard and Danny Green for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a heavily protected 2019-first round pick (1-20). While Butler is indeed a top 15 player, Leonard is a top 3 player when healthy.
Lets take a look.