"Sources in Cleveland say Jimmy Butler will push for trade to Cavs" Spoiler Jimmy Butler being Cleveland-bound picked up even more momentum on Tuesday. According to multiple sources in Cleveland, not only have Cavaliers players – including LeBron James and Kyrie Irving – been reaching out to Butler directly and through back channels over the last five days to gauge his interest, but those players liked what they heard back from the Bulls’ three-time All-Star. One of the sources indicated that Butler would even push his front office to get the deal done, which is a huge change of direction for Butler, who has told both general manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson numerous times over the last year that he didn’t want to be traded. But that was before the Eastern Conference powerhouse Cavaliers became a possible destination. Such a deal would hinge on a third team being brought in to make the deal happen because the Cavaliers don’t have the right assets to trade directly with the Bulls. The Phoenix Suns were mentioned in one report, but the Los Angeles Lakers could also come into play. The Lakers have high draft picks, young players and motivation to add a Kevin Love so that it makes the possible courting of free agent-to-be Paul George an even easier sell. Meanwhile, while the asking price for Butler has been astronomical since last June, there’s now some extra motivation for Gar/Pax to also get it done. Sources close to the situation indicated that in his meeting with the Bulls front office last week, veteran Dwyane Wade told them he would not stick around for a rebuild. In other words, if Butler was to be moved, Wade would likely opt out of the $23.8 million player option he has sitting on the table and leave his hometown team after just one season. That would open up a world of financial flexibility for the Bulls, who can still build with their young core, but also add proven free agents to stay competitive. But the Butler drama doesn’t end there. If Gar/Pax fail to get a Butler-to-Cleveland deal done that doesn’t mean life gets any easier for the two. A Bulls source indicated that the message coming out of the meetings with both Butler and Wade was the “Three Alphas’’ storyline has played out. While Butler and Wade personally have no problem with Rajon Rondo, they would like a proven outside threat at point guard to open up the floor. The Sun-Times reported last week that Butler has been in the ear of free-agent point guard Kyle Lowry about coming to Chicago since the two played on Team USA last summer, and now there’s a new name in the mix. All-Star Kyrie Irving has been contacting some of his former Team USA teammates and letting them know that he might be willing to push for a trade, especially if he feels the Cavs’ run could end quickly with James able to opt out after next season. Through back channels, Chicago would be one of the places that Irving would be interested to play. Clearly the asking price for Irving would be too rich for what the Bulls have, and a third team would also have to be brought into that mix. “Jimmy wants to win, period,’’ a source said. “Whatever it takes to get that done.’’ Butler is vacationing in Europe and could not be reached for comment, while the Bulls front office doesn’t “comment on rumors.’’
If you get rid of Faried, plenty of room for Paul. I'd imagine you have to part ways with Harris for Jimmy Butler. I think Murray is a better long-term asset if you're building a Butler / Jokic core because he's locked up on a cheap deal through 2021. They have plenty of cap room to maneuver deals around. Hold onto Harris and you're going to max out Jokic, Butler, Harris all in summer 2019. Murray is going to be great too so no downside in letting Harris and a few other players go for Butler.
Everybody has a ****ing "source" these days. Butler will force trade to Cleveland, Butler is definitely gone to Cleveland or Boston, ...now Butler wants to remain in Chicago & has no interest in Cleveland. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...acers-paul-george-faces-significant-obstacles The Cleveland Cavaliers remain seriously interested in trading for Chicago's Jimmy Butler or Indiana's Paul George, but have encountered significant obstacles on both fronts, according to league sources. Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that the Cavaliers have been notified that Butler hopes to stay with the Bulls and would be reluctant to commit his long-term future to Cleveland. Butler, sources said, remains intent on trying to lead the Bulls back to Eastern Conference prominence. To land either Butler or George, sources say, Cleveland knows it would have to assemble a three-team (or more) trade --- likely costing them All-Star forward Kevin Love -- to manufacture the top-five draft pick Chicago and Indiana are known to covet in exchange for surrendering their respective best players.
If that's true, Ainge is insane. Even a top 3 pick is not some kind of sure thing, just take a look at the top 3 draft results for the past 20 years.
Translation: yeah, we'll take Butler for the #3 pick, but we aren't trading you our capsapce too. You have take some players to match salaries for this to work.
He wants them to match salaries is all, so he still has cap space. CHI prefers to not take any salary back
They really like Hayward and free agency, too, and Butler for no outgoing salary hurts that. They want everything -- Hayward and Butler. So they need to wait out CHI until they accept some salary filller back. And CHI will probably ask for a late pick addied to eat the salary. But the core part of the deal ... Butler for the #3 is probably settled already.
Jimmy Butler Reportedly Told by Cavaliers Players to Avoid Team After GM's Exit http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...avaliers-players-to-avoid-team-after-gms-exit
Opposing executives believe Minnesota is considering using its No. 7 pick as part of a package to try to re-engage the Chicago Bulls on a trade for Jimmy Butler, ESPN has learned. The Cavs had previously tried to trade for Butler but were unsuccessful. Sources told ESPN's Marc Stein that Butler earlier this week expressed a desire to remain in Chicago and lead the Bulls back to prominence. The Vertical reported earlier this week that Minnesota had preliminary talks with Chicago about Butler.
