New York Knicks: Three reasons to trade for Jimmy Butler

3. Knicks have leverage over Minnesota

Given the greatness of Jimmy Butler, Knicks fans — and presumably the front office as well — are hesitant to give up a likely large package needed to pry him out of Minnesota.

After the deal that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York stripped the team of most of its assets, the reluctance to part with a similar set of assets make would make sense, if not for Butler taking away all of the Wolves’ leverage with his demands.

The Timberwolves cannot afford to lose Butler for squat when he hits free agency next summer, and given how he essentially controls his own destiny by giving a specific list of teams he’d sign an extension with, Minnesota can’t really be picky when it comes to specifics of a deal.

Bleacher Report’s Sean Highkin outlined a potential trade between the Wolves and Knicks, one that would net Minnesota Courtney Lee and Frank Ntilikina in exchange for Butler.

Most people assume that for New York to get Butler, the team would have to part with a first-round pick, a big no-no for Mills as stated in his recent sit-down, but because the Wolves are essentially on a ticking clock and depending on offers from other teams, the Knicks may be able to throw a low-ball offer and come out on top.