Disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has made it clear that he only wants to go to one of a select few destinations for the next phase of his career. And while the Toronto Raptors are not on that short list, they could still be involved in a potential Butler deal. According to The Star’s Doug Smith, the franchise is open to helping facilitate a Butler trade by offering up some of its assets in a potential three-deal deal.
“The Raptors aren’t driving the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes that is consuming NBA fans who live and die on the speculation that is about to engulf the league ahead of the trade deadline, wrote Smith. “Talking to a handful of people around the league — all granted anonymity because none have the ultimate say in how the saga ends — it is obvious the Raptors are hoping to insinuate themselves into the conversation. It’s not that they want Butler: His skill set, age, $52-million player option for next season, and longer-term financial desires make him about ill-suited to join this roster. But general manager Bobby Webster and president Masai Ujiri are trying to be facilitators — and benefactors — in what ultimately happens with Butler.”
The Raptors tried going all-in for a star, and they had great success with Kawhi Leonard. This year, with a roster of mostly young and unproven talent, the Raptors know they are in no position to attract any high-profile players, especially not Butler, who dreams of playing for the Phoenix Suns.
But the Raptors can get involved in other ways, like being the link in a three—or four-team trade by giving up some of their assets in exchange for a win-now piece.
With RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poetl, the Raptors feel like they have a solid core that might be able to compete if given a more reliable and skilled supporting cast. With several draft picks and young players to offer, the Raptors have exactly what any team would want in exchange for their franchise star.
If the Raptors can find a third or fourth team to help convert those assets into something more valuable for their team, it will put them in a solid position to rise in the East and start building the kind of roster that can make NBA history.
Of course, the Raptors are surely not alone in this line of thinking. The ongoing Butler sweepstakes has provided a golden opportunity for teams to try and make upgrades to their roster for a discounted price.
So far this season, the Raptors have been relatively quiet but things could change on a dime if one team gets close to meeting Pat Riley’s hefty asking price. At 35 years old and with a history of flaking on teams in the past, Butler’s value is somewhat limited nowadays but the Heat must take their time to find a trade that puts them in the best position to win going forward.
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