If the Toronto Raptors’ all-in gamble with Kawhi Leonard wasn’t enough to look forward to for next season, it appears that they’re sniffing around a double-or-nothing chance with Jimmy Butler.
Like Kawhi, Butler is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season, and like Kawhi before the Raptors acquired him, Butler wants out of his situation. Reports Minnesota-based reporter Darren Wolfson, the Raptors are among a number of teams sniffing around the Timberwolves star.
When Butler’s trade demand initially leaked, Raptors fans were immediately interested, as the contract timetables of Leonard and Butler line up nicely. It’s a big risk move to take on two players who may leave at the end of the year, but conversely, pairing two of the NBA’s superstars could make a more compelling case for both to re-sign.
The Raptors weren’t one of the three teams on Butler’s list with whom he would immediately sign an extension — notably, the Los Angeles Clippers were on that list, and they’ve also had similar designs on pairing Butler with Leonard next summer — but there’s always the chance that Butler can be persuaded otherwise.
As a strange twist to the fallout of this trade rumour, Andrew Wiggins has been roped into some drama after responding to former NBAer (and current ESPN personality) Stephen Jackson, who in turn called out Wiggins’ brother, Nick, for seemingly celebrating Butler’s departure. Yeah, it’s a lot.
