According to Sam Amico, Miami Heat executive Pat Riley is “pulling the plug” on a potential Jimmy Butler trade, opening the door for the LA Clippers.
The Miami Heat, long considered the frontrunner among all potential trade partners with the Minnesota Timberwolves, are reportedly “pulling the plug” on Jimmy Butler, Sam Amico reports.
The decision was made by Miami Heat executive Pat Riley, who reportedly apologized to his players after their names had surfaced in trade rumors. Riley couldn’t guarantee that a trade wouldn’t happen somewhere down the line, but made sure his team knew that he was pulling the plug for now.
This leaves the LA Clippers with a wide open door to engage in trade talks with the Wolves once again. Although the asking price likely remains high, Minnesota may feel pressured to make a trade soon if their season begins to take a turn for the worst. With Butler back and playing for the team, there’s a good chance that team chemistry could be impacted.
In addition to the Clippers, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski believes the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets are also teams that may reach out to the Timberwolves once again to discuss a potential trade.
Minnesota has remained stingy at best with teams that wish to acquire Butler. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Timberwolves requested a trade package from Miami in early October that included Josh Richardson, 2017 first-round selection Bam Adebayo, and a protected 2019 first-round pick. Minnesota also wanted to include forward Gorgui Dieng, a less-than-great big who’s due roughly $48 million until his contract expires in 2021.
When it comes to the Clippers, the Wolves have been adamant in their pursuit of Tobias Harris, requesting he be included in any potential deal. But given Harris’s new role with Los Angeles, the front office has been reluctant to send him away.
Butler made his regular season debut for the Timberwolves on Wednesday, in a 108-112 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Butler recorded 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists across 32 minutes of action.
Teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, who Butler has reportedly feuded with in the past, had a lackluster eight point, nine rebound showing. It’s possible that Butler’s influence had something to do with his below-average performance.
Whether he ends up with the LA Clippers or not, Butler’s days in Minnesota are likely numbered.