Los Angeles Clippers: Three possible trade packages for Jimmy Butler

With news breaking left and right yesterday that Jimmy Butler wants out of Minnesota and to be on the Los Angeles Clippers, we take a look at three possible trade packages.

Yesterday was quite a day for Clipper nation. Not only did Jimmy Butler demand a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but news broke that the Los Angeles Clippers were his preferred destination.

Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported that Butler had demanded a trade after meeting with coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday. Butler, who just turned 29, is eligible for a four year max deal through free agency next summer, but could get a fifth year if he re-signs with the team who owns his bird rights.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN later followed up that Butler gave them a list of three preferred teams: The Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers. It later came out that out of the three, Butler had his attention on Los Angeles due to the team having cap space next summer to not only sign him to an extension, but to also bring in another max-contract caliber player.

With Butler making his intentions clear to play in LA with another star, Clippers’ fans started salivating at the idea of pairing him and either Kyrie Irving or Kawhi Leonard next summer. The Clippers re-build, albeit extremely brief, would be complete and the team would be loaded again with talent.

But let’s not put the cart before the horse. Before 2019 free agency even gets close, trading for Butler has to be the priority. Getting him now ensures that the team has at least one star and he can begin to recruit other players as the season presses on.

With that being said, here are three trade packages that the LA Clippers should consider in order to bring Butler into the fold.