New York Knicks: Early connections exist with top 2019 free agents

Jimmy Butler

The Jimmy Butler saga has continued into November for the Minnesota Timberwolves, nearly two months after his public-but-not-public trade request. He’s still on the court for them, too, which paints an awkward perception.

Amidst this, Butler will still hit unrestricted free agency, pending Minnesota doesn’t move him before 2018-19 ends. He owns a player option for 2019-20, but it pays him less money.

So it’s possible the Marquette product still reaches the open market, even with an in-season transaction, but that’s still a murky scenario, and a trade still sits at the forefront.

When the request first developed, the Marquette product listed the New York Knicks as a preferred destination. With the necessary money to pay a maximum contract, it made sense, especially with the Brooklyn Nets also listed.

A trade probably won’t happen, given the front office’s stance on moving draft picks and future assets. The Timberwolves may want veterans, anyway, in head coach and president Tom Thibodeau’s win-now mantra to avoid losing his job. The Houston Rockets previously offered four first-round picks.

Don’t rule the Knicks out yet, at least until the Timberwolves move Butler in the 2018-19 season and he signs an extension with the new party. Though, the connection between he and the Big Apple’s basketball franchise was always limited.