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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 possible deals for Jimmy Butler

By Baasil Ebrahim

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)
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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Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 26: Kristaps Porzingis /

1. New York Knicks

The Knicks have a legitimate chance of Tom Thibodeau agreeing to trade them Butler for Joakim Noah. I mean seriously, if someone played for Thibodeau in Chicago he seems to be perfectly comfortable bringing them back.

Seriously though, the Knicks have been linked to Butler for a little bit of time now. There have been talks about he and Kyrie Irving joining the Knicks next summer to create their own super team in the Big Apple. Naturally, Butler did nothing but add fuel to the fire by liking a comment about the idea on Instagram. They are the final team on his list of three teams he would like to be traded to because, again they have the ability to re-sign him next summer and are flush with young talent.

It would be a very enticing team. Assuming the Knicks re-sign Kristaps Porzingis, they would at least have a core of Porzingis, Butler, Irving, and Kevin Knox. That team would have a world-class ball-handler, three great shooters, a post defender, and a talented young slasher to eat defenses up in all ways. Even if that idea should fall through, Butler joining the Knicks makes a lot of sense.

If he was traded to the Knicks, Ntilikina or Knox would probably be headed to Minnesota, likely with Courtney Lee and a future pick. Still, there would be plenty left for the Knicks to work with.

Next: Every NBA team's Mount Rushmore

Despite the mess that New York has been in recent history, this would be a chance for it to fix that. The team has a lot of talent on its roster, but need another star to take the pressure off of Porzingis. That is why they went for the home run draft pick in Knox, but Butler gives them somebody established to fill that role, who will be able to fit in with their offense.

They have the ability to sign Butler after this year, as the first step to a stronger pitch to Irving. Being traded to the Knicks would allow Butler to potentially be a part of an Eastern Conference contender for years to come, which is why the Knicks are the best landing spot for Jimmy Butler.

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