The Miami Heat still seem like the most likely trade partner for the Minnesota Timberwolves if and when they decide to move on from Jimmy Butler, but talks between the two sides seem to keep falling apart after any real progress is made.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reported on Wednesday that the Heat and T-Wolves were making progress on talks until things broke down over deal changes proposed by Minnesota. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the two teams got to a point over the weekend where they were exchanging medical information and on the verge of finalizing a trade, but there was once again a breakdown.
ESPN Sources: Minnesota-Miami talks escalated close to a Jimmy Butler deal over weekend – only to see trade fall apart. Minnesota shared Butler’s medical info with Miami, owners were involved and sides prepared to finalize. Minnesota pushed for more, talks fractured.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 7, 2018
Those talks can always start again, but Minnesota has little else, if anything, going in the marketplace. Teams had backed away because of price and belief Minny would get deal w/ Miami. Sources say owner Glen Taylor's mandate stands to his front office: Find a deal for Butler. https://t.co/LIXQwXPKkl
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 7, 2018
The problem could be that the Timberwolves are asking for too much and have very little leverage, as Butler has made it clear he wants out and the Heat are said to be a the top of his wish list. Butler can opt out of his contract after the season and has no intention of re-signing with Minnesota, so a team like Miami could always just wait to sign him as a free agent if the T-Wolves make unreasonable trade demands.
Timberwolves coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau has been reluctant to deal Butler, but Wojnarowski noted that team owner Glen Taylor wants to grant Butler’s wish.
