5 best landing spots for Jimmy Butler if he leaves the Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks to the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Boston Celtics

Before the Bulls traded Butler to the Timberwolves, the Celtics were rumored to have interest in him. Irving is of course already in Boston after a trade last offseason, so Danny Ainge could make a trade for Butler between now and next February’s trade deadline or he could just use his opt-out and sign with Boston next summer.

The primary issue would be how Irving and Butler, with max contracts assumed for each after dual decisions to opt out, would fit together under the salary cap to keep most of the Celtics’ roster together. But center Al Horford has a player option of his own for 2019-20, and that would free up substantial money for Boston.

Another spin through ESPN’s Trade Machine, for a Butler trade to the Celtics, yields this.

The Celtics Get: Jimmy Butler, Tyus Jones
The Timberwolves Get: Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris

As before with the Lakers, let’s assume the addition of a first-round pick going to Minnesota in a deal for Butler. Any talk of parting with Brown may be a dead-end for the Celtics, but they’d also get Jones as an intriguing young player and could get some level of assurance from Butler that he won’t be a rental.

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