Cavaliers Latest Team Interested In Jimmy Butler

The Cavaliers are the latest team in the mix to acquire Timberwolves All-Star Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was seen speaking privately with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor at the NBA Board of Governors meeting on Friday, per Wojnarowski.

The Butler saga is expected to reach a conclusion soon as Taylor reportedly working to trade his disgruntled superstar as soon as possible. Wojnarowski’s earlier report listed the Nets, Pistons, Rockets, Clippers, Heat, Sixers and Trail Blazers as teams that have expressed interest.

For Cleveland, swinging a deal for the swingman would propel the team from a fringe contender to a likely postseason team in the Eastern Conference. Butler, 29, represents a solid replacement for the departed LeBron James, who left for the Lakers this summer.

However, acquiring Butler would be a challenge; the Cavaliers cannot trade Kevin Love for at least six months from the day he signed his extension this summer and the organization owes the Hawks a first-round pick, per ESPN’s Zach Lowe.

As Wojnarowski noted, the two franchise’s owners, Gilbert and Taylor, played roles in striking the Love for Andrew Wiggins deal in the summer of 2014. While a deal would require some creativity, there is a history between both sides of making major trades.

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