The Nets, Knicks, Nuggets, Sixers and Lakers are potential landing spots for Jimmy Butler if the Timberwolves decide to trade him before he hits free agency next summer, Frank Urbina of HoopsHype opines. Butler is reportedly meeting with Minnesota’s brass on Monday to discuss his future with the organization. The Nets could offer a package featuring the Nuggets’ top-12 protected 2019 first-round pick, as well as defensive-minded wing Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, while Denver could make either Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. the centerpiece in a deal for the All-Star wing, Urbina adds.
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- Porter is trying to return to full strength after two back surgeries and there’s no guarantee he’ll play this season, Christopher Dempsey of the team’s website writes in a player profile. The Nuggets will keep him on the sidelines until they’re convinced the rookie forward won’t have any setbacks. There’s no timetable on when he will be ready to make his debut, Dempsey adds.
- Defense will be the Thunder’s biggest strengths this season, according to Basketball Insiders’ season preview of the team. The return of Andre Roberson from his knee injury and the subtraction of Carmelo Anthony give the Thunder five above-average-to-elite defenders in their lineup. Oklahoma City’s biggest issue is closing out games but without the chemistry issues caused by trying to fit Anthony in with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, its performances in the clutch should also improve this season.
- Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu and center Jusuf Nurkic have returned to Portland after competing in regional FIBA World Cup qualifiers last week, according to Casey Holdahl of the team’s website. Aminu helped Nigeria go 3-0 during the tournament but Bosnia and Herzegovina went winless in two games despite the efforts of Nurkic.
- Shooting guard Darius Johnson-Odom has remained in Minnesota to work out following his recent tryout with the Timberwolves, Darren Wolfson of KSTP tweets. He could still be added to the training camp roster, Wolfson adds.
They’ll ask an arm and a leg for a 1 yr rental that will end up in NYK anyway?
knicks < nets
Butler seems to want to everyone to think he is a superstar, like he could be best player on a title contending team, but nobody believes that if they have watched the wolves. Some guys want all the credit and attention except when things don’t go well they want the narrative out their that it’s something else, the coach, other teammates, ect. That’s understandable, these guys have brands they want to grow and perception is reality to fans. But part of being considered the best is not making excuses and making others better anyway you have to, Butler if he wants to be the team leader needs to figure out how to have good relationship with towns and Wiggins, if that means less criticism and more encouragement then he has to do that, body language included, some guys say all the right stuff but then you see how they play, how they react to a mistake by a teammate, and you realize how they really feel. Bill Simmons always talks about the body language doctor and always watches timeouts and things like that. To that point I think big reason warriors are so great and so clutch is the fact their superstars cheer on the bench like they are college walkons, you won’t see other superstars doing that consistently like they do. But that’s rare, guys get to the nba by being competitive and wanting to stand out on their team and be known as the guy, be the #1 reason for success not the #2 or 3, they want to get bigger contracts and endorsements so it’s hard to balance that with being on a team.
But who knows maybe it’s towns that’s hard to get along with, maybe it is the coaching, so many factors and variables it’s silly to have a definitive opinion about what’s wrong with a team or why they lose.
If Buckets isn’t any good with young players all these 5 teams aren’t good for him as they have many youngsters. I hope he goes to Brooklyn or New York.
I meant if he have to end up in one of them.
Cannot believe Denver would give MPJ for him, Murray or Harris is another thing, but MPJ that could be a huge mistake. At least they have IT4 to play PG.
Murray is definitely better than MPJ. Everyone’s trying to project what porter can be, but we’ve yet to see it. Harris is prolly more valuable too. They should trade MPJ b4 the value is shot…
Get rid of Wiggins first and see how much both sides of the ball open up.
Denver!!!!