Posturing? If so .... what difference would it make with the FO? They can't bring Butler back now, he's become a cancer in the locker room for his stance. Rumor: Tom Thibodeau would rather leave Timberwolves than trade Jimmy Butler for young players, picks https://www.yahoo.com/sports/rumor-tom-thibodeau-rather-leave-173105238.html
One of the Kamenitsky brothers on the radio made an excellent point: Jimmy's desired locations should be a red flag not just for Jimmy, but for the teams he is requesting a trade to. The Knicks, Nets, and Clippers are all teams worse than his with only a vaguely positive future ahead. So why would he want to go there? It's not to win, it's to cash in and/or live in a bigger market. Just by those implications, he's not about winning with this move. I suspect he's got a bigger plan in mind and someone like Kawhi and/or Kyrie has told him they're going to join him at the next location, but still. It's a good point. This is a bad look for Jimmy and the outside drama sort of clouds the implications of this move.
I think it looks like a bit of both for Butler. He doesn't like the two star youngsters' lack of focus/seriousness and he also wants to team up with someone in a bigger market and get PAID. Both things are probably at the heart of his meeting with Thibs. Are these kids going to get in line? If not I want out. Oh yeah, and I want to get PAID! To be fair KAT played crap last year in the playoffs and Wiggy has never really panned out despite his talent.
Pretty much no team has a chance against any team in the West stacked with Ball Hart Kuzma BI Svi Moe Other princes Rondo Stephenson McGee It's like not even fair. Any star that comes here is pulling a KD and just along for the ride for an easy ring.
All this Clippers talk, makes me feel good that the Lakers are gonna drop those clowns 4-0 this year.
Long-standing rumor is Butler and Kyrie to the Knicks. Butler saying Nets just means he can set up his house a year early and sign with the Knicks next year.
I still feel if Butler gets traded to the cLips, Kyrie is more likely to go there and Kawhi comes to us. If he goes to NY/east, Ky goes out there with him and the cLips make a full court press on our guy, Kawhi. If Thibs was forced to deal Butler, then it's more likely to Doc/cLips. But if it's strictly up to the owner, then just like KG/Love, Butler is heading out of the Western conference and landing on an Eastern team.