Report: Heat aggressive in pursuit of Butler trade
A number of teams are looking to get in on the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes, with the Miami Heat perhaps wanting to get a trade done with the Minnesota Timberwolves more than anyone else in the Association.
The Heat and president Pat Riley have reportedly been as aggressive as any team as they look to potentially acquire Butler from Minnesota, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Timberwolves ownership reportedly wants the disgruntled 29-year-old moved as soon as possible, with media day taking place on Monday and training camp getting underway Tuesday. While Butler has reportedly been excused from both, the hope is that he'll be shipped out by early next week.
Along with Miami, the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers have all reportedly inquired about Butler.
The Heat are locked into a number of burdensome contracts that would prevent them from re-signing Butler next summer. As the Washington Post's Tim Bontemps pointed out, they'd be more incentivized to part ways with assets - like Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson, or Josh Richardson - in a trade, unlike teams that could just wait out 2018-19 and sign Butler in the offseason.
Minnesota also reportedly hopes to add center Gorgui Dieng, and the $49 million he's still owed over the next three seasons, to any Butler deal.
If a trade comes to fruition, Butler would be reunited with friend and former Chicago Bulls teammate Dwyane Wade in South Beach.