The Sacramento Kings are now part of the list of NBA teams that are interested in acquiring Jimmy Butler for the upcoming regular season.
This last NBA week has been crazy due to the drama that has surrounded the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not too long ago, multiple All-Star Jimmy Butler requested a trade which would have him playing for another team this year.
Based on the reports, the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Knicks are on the list of teams that Butler would like to play for.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA Insider for ESPN, teams that have contacted Minnesota about Butler are the Nets, Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Sacramento Kings. Yes, THE Sacramento Kings.
How Butler Could Impact The Kings?
Now the acquisition for Butler makes the Kings instantly better as he is known around the league as one of the best two-way players in the game. Add that to him being a small forward, a position that the Kings greatly need to fill, and he is the ideal wing player for Sacramento to build around going forward.
Should The Kings Go After Butler?
Although Butler would certainly accelerate the Kings’ rebuild, it is a huge risk for the front office to make. According to Spotrac, Butler can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020 or 2019 if he decides to opt out of his player option at the end of this season. So if the Kings did end up trading for the Butler and he does not commit to the purple and white long term, it will set the Kings back to square one.
In order for Sacramento to get Butler, they most likely will have to trade a couple of their young assets, and maybe even draft picks, to get him. So if they do give up any of their assets just to have Butler for one season it would be a complete waste for Vlade Divac and company.
It creates a little excitement around the Kings community that their team has some interest in Jimmy Butler. But unless he is willing to commit to the Kings for the long haul, there is no reason for Sacramento to make a move for him.