NBA 2018-19: 5 Most Likely Jimmy Butler Trades

#1 Brooklyn Nets

Will Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving team up in Barclays Center?

The Nets receive: Jimmy Butler, Gorgui Dieng

The Timberwolves receive: D'Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe, Jared Dudley, 2019 first-round pick (top-10 protected)

The Brooklyn Nets, like the Clippers, appeared in the original three-team list Butler handed to Tom Thibodeau. His interest in the Nets can be explained by his desire to play in a big market and the possibility his close friend, Kyrie Irving, will join him there in 2019 as a free agent. Reports say Irving wishes to play in the New York area, since he grew up in New Jersey as a Nets fan.

Minnesota can save more than $11 million by exchanging Dieng for Allen Crabbe, who has $37 million guaranteed across the next two years. Brooklyn will take more money in total, but it will actually create more cap space for the Nets the next summer, since Dieng's salary next year is smaller than Crabbe's salary.

The two other players Minnesota will receive in this trade are on expiring contracts, but will also create an opportunity for the Wolves; Dudley is a veteran who shot 39.6% from deep for his career, giving the team more experience and spacing, while Russell can play both guard positions and be the future PG of the franchise.