Everything 2018 Off Season

[Hotshot]

Weird Toronto linkage to Jimmy Butler is that his agent is a Chinese-Canadian named Bernie Lee. I wonder how TF he landed a big fish like that?

http://leebasket.com/jimmy-butler.php

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle26258509/

Just because you are the smaller fish, does not mean you can't get big deals done. Reputation is the name of the game.

Also being a smaller fish it probably means you can pay your agent a smaller cut than you would to someone like Rich Paul. Big name agents will cost you more money, just like a lawyer would.

[golden]

The Heat have pursued Butler as aggressively as any of the 20-plus teams to inquire thus far but, like many, have found it hard to get Minnesota to clearly communicate. League sources say Miami is a team that strongly appeals to the free agent-to-be Butler after a trade https://t.co/YYTQT8FW22

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 26, 2018

Looking like it's Miami. Thibs just needs to pull the trigger. Not sure why he's holding on so tightly.

Weird Toronto linkage to Jimmy Butler is that his agent is a Chinese-Canadian named Bernie Lee. I wonder how TF he landed a big fish like that?

http://leebasket.com/jimmy-butler.php

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle26258509/

[Hotshot]

The Heat have pursued Butler as aggressively as any of the 20-plus teams to inquire thus far but, like many, have found it hard to get Minnesota to clearly communicate. League sources say Miami is a team that strongly appeals to the free agent-to-be Butler after a trade https://t.co/YYTQT8FW22

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 26, 2018

Looking like it's Miami. Thibs just needs to pull the trigger. Not sure why he's holding on so tightly.

Latest rumors have the Wolves wanting either Dragic or a 3rd team to facilitate bringing in a good point guard...

[planetmars]

The Heat have pursued Butler as aggressively as any of the 20-plus teams to inquire thus far but, like many, have found it hard to get Minnesota to clearly communicate. League sources say Miami is a team that strongly appeals to the free agent-to-be Butler after a trade https://t.co/YYTQT8FW22

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 26, 2018

Looking like it's Miami. Thibs just needs to pull the trigger. Not sure why he's holding on so tightly.

[KeonClark]

He also doesn’t like Prince or Kirby Puckett

He doesnt like purple rain?!?

I dont want him near this team.

[inthepaint]

Here's my issue with Butler and Minnesota: Butler wants out because of Wiggins right? Butler is a much better player than Wiggins(and he actually shows up every fame unlike Wiggins). The Wolves should know this. So why not trade Wiggins instead?

The Wiggins/KAT thing sounds like a ruse. He wants to play in LA for a max deal. Minnesota is neither LA, nor were they ready to give him a 5 yr max deal.

So he started to create locker room strife to push his way out of the team, just like he did in Chicago. I think that even if they moved both KAT & Wiggins, he'd find some other young players to pick on, until he finds his way to the Clippers. It's unfortunate for 'sota that he doesn't even want to show up for camp, despite still being paid by/under contract with them, but that's where they are.

[GOLDBLUM]

I'm not sure how much better the team is with a Butler for Lowry swap. Better wing defence for sure, less shooting. Kyle is underrated as one of the best 3 pt shooters in the league - and he does it at good volume. The team has some other solid %'s, but those guys don't touch Lowry's volume or versatility.

Then you have Lowry, who's proven willing to lead the league in drawn charges (literally lay his ass on the line for you) vs a guy developing a pattern of asking out of situations he doesn't like too much.

Just a couple of the various ways Lowry has proven able to help drive wins.

Don't think it's worth the gamble, personally. The team may or may not be better.

Thankfully for our sakes, while a lot of this is perhaps very speculative for us, I trust Masai has a really clear picture of Kyle's value and the layers of concern that should be necessary regarding his 'attitude' vs. how much Jimmy would improve our situation. If the team was run by every idiot hockey writer out there, Kyle would already be on his way out of town.

[Demographic Shift]

I'm not sure how much better the team is with a Butler for Lowry swap. Better wing defence for sure,1. less shooting. Kyle is underrated as one of the best 3 pt shooters in the league - and he does it at good volume. The team has some other solid %'s, but those guys don't touch Lowry's volume or versatility.

Then you have 2. Lowry, who's proven willing to lead the league in drawn charges (literally lay his ass on the line for you) vs 3. a guy developing a pattern of asking out of situations he doesn't like too much.

Just a couple of the various ways Lowry has proven able to help drive wins.

Don't think it's worth the gamble, personally. The team may or may not be better.

3 for 3...

The price the acquiring team has to pay for Butler will likely be pennies on the dollar.

Jimmy can and will opt out next year. No guarantees on if he stays or goes. Yep we did it with Leonard.. but all due respect Leonard is top 5.. Jimmy top 15-20 ?

Its the second time he has driven a wedge in the room (he may be right that KAT and Wiggins are not willing to do what it takes to win big)..but he did this in Chicago with Rondo and Wade vs the Baby Bulls before GarPax sent him on his way. We have a lot of young players. I am sure everyone thinks our guys work harder.. but with only 450 jobs I think everyone works hard. I get its the old competitive attitude but who wants to work with or play with a person who is running you or the organization down. Bit of red flag.

The owner who has made big investments in KAT@190M$ and Wiggins@150M$ and has publicly said he will listen to offers to get Butler out of a place he doesn't want to be really crushes any leverage Minny might have.

Jimmy has a cap hit of 20M$. Lowry is $30M and lord knows we don't need Dieng. Its too high a price to pay for the situation .. not the player.

Not that adding Jimmy wouldn’t be a great get....but if an offer is in it’s likely a lowball one.

[Rudy Bargnani]

It's far more complicated than that I think. Butler doesnt like Wiggins, towns, the city, the contract offer, the owner, hell I think he despises the movie Fargo. It seems its past the point of no return

He also doesn’t like Prince or Kirby Puckett

[S.R.]

I'm not sure how much better the team is with a Butler for Lowry swap. Better wing defence for sure, less shooting. Kyle is underrated as one of the best 3 pt shooters in the league - and he does it at good volume. The team has some other solid %'s, but those guys don't touch Lowry's volume or versatility.

Then you have Lowry, who's proven willing to lead the league in drawn charges (literally lay his ass on the line for you) vs a guy developing a pattern of asking out of situations he doesn't like too much.

Just a couple of the various ways Lowry has proven able to help drive wins.

Don't think it's worth the gamble, personally. The team may or may not be better.

[Mapko]

One report said KAT wouldn’t sign the extension unless Butler was gone, if you believe that. KAT’s signed so Jimmy must go.

I've read somewhere that Butler was "not impressed" with neither work ethic. Lets face it: On paper that last year's team should have been a lot better. Kobe had issues with a lot guys who would not go all out (Howard....).

[Hotshot]

I well deserved tech I hope?

Hopefully he will calm down a bit.

[Mapko]

Lets not forget Serge, I expect a techincal foul to be called now at our bigs almost every game.

I well deserved tech I hope?

[planetmars]

I think the Ringer is trolling the Republic

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/9...e-jimmy-butler

I'm completely on the fence on this one.

I love Lowry.. favorite Raptor. Hope he has a kick ass season playing next to Kawhi. But Fred is a pretty awesome PG too and the separation from Kyle to Fred has narrowed quite considerably last year. Don't get me wrong.. Kyle is still better. But we might survive with Fred over Kyle if we had to (I think).

Kyle struggles playing around the rim. He's a good defender (we saw that first hand against the Wiz series and how he helped shut down Beals for at least two games), but Jimmy is at a different level. Jimmy can score at the rim. He's not a great shooter (definitely not as good as Lowry), but an average/passable one. He's good around the corners. He's also a decent play maker if he has to be. His IQ is off the charts, and he works hard all the time.

Kyle is getting older and we've already had to cut his minutes. But Jimmy is in that same boat (plus he's had knee surgery). Jimmy will want a super max ($38M a year). Kyle's next contract I suspect will be much more affordable. Probably high teens, low 20's. He'll also be in his mid 30's though.

I guess I'm just completely neutral on this. If Lowry is traded for Jimmy I'd probably be a little upset because of how much I like Kyle. But would be excited about the prospects of having two amazing defenders on the team.

[The Great One]

Rex, what are your thoughts on minidisc players?

Walkman better