Jimmy Butler could be on his way to the New York Knicks but only if they get a heads-up from a 2019 target that they want him on board.
That’s the suggestion of NBA insider Stephen A Smith.
Butler has named New York as one of the three destinations he would like to go to after requesting a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves this week.
The Brooklyn Nets and the LA Clippers were the other two teams the shooting guard named, according to ESPN, as he seeks a move away from Tom Thibodeau’s team.
The Knicks have not reached the playoffs in any of the last five seasons and as they seek a post-season return, having not even reached a Conference Finals since 1999-00, are targeting big names to recruit next year.
Kyrie Irving has just one year left on his contract with the Boston Celtics and has been linked with a move to the Knicks while Golden State Warriors ace Kevin Durant has also been linked with a move to the Big Apple in 12 months’ time.
Butler, however, wants out of Minnesota in the coming weeks rather than next year but the Knicks are likely unwilling to sacrifice assets and draft picks in order to bring in the 29-year-old.
Yet Smith told ESPN’s Get Up! that it is not out of the question that the Knicks could move for the former Chicago Bulls star if it would help them bring in a big name like Irving or Durant next summer.
“The Knicks, you’ve got Courtney Lee, Frank Ntilikina and probably a first-round pick – I don’t think the Knicks are going to be willing to do that,” Smith said, discussing Butler’s possible moves.
“But if you’ve got a chance to get Kyrie or a Kevin Durant, and I’m not saying that is the case with Durant but I do know Kyrie wouldn’t mind being in New York city, make no mistake about that.
“If they give you a wink-wink, ‘We wouldn’t mind Jimmy Butler being there!’ then who knows what the Knicks would be willing to do.”
Los Angeles is a possible destination for Butler but not with LeBron James and the Lakers, as some had suggested.
Instead, their rivals – the Clippers – are among Butler’s choices but Smith revealed that they currently have their sights firmly set on convincing Kawhi Leonard to swap Toronto for southern California.
Leonard wanted to return to his hometown of L.A. as he sought a way out of the San Antonio Spurs a few months ago, only to be sent to the Toronto Raptors in a shock trade involving DeMar DeRozan.
And while the Lakers were long favourites to land Leonard in 2019 when he becomes a free agent, the Clippers have suddenly emerged as the two-time Defensive Player of the Year’s apparent preference.
Assessing the chances of Butler joining the Clippers, Smith continued: “The Clippers are very, very interesting.
“They’re going to have money for two max players but they’re targeting Kawhi because the belief is that right now Kawhi is more interested than in the Clippers than the Lakers.
“I don’t really believe that. That’s the noise that is being put out there but I don’t really believe that. I’d have to see it to believe it, but nevertheless it is the impression that the Clippers and others people have about Kawhi.”