Pairing Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry with another game-changing superstar could move the Golden State Warriors closer to championship contention.
Although it may be a bit far-fetched, Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe believes there’s a slight chance the Dubs could reunite Butler with his ex-Minnesota Timberwolves teammate this summer.
“While it's far from a major feud (between Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns), it's fair to say it's unlikely that Butler and Towns will ever be teammates in the NBA again,” O’Keefe wrote Monday.
“That hasn't stopped suggestions of Golden State trading for the 5x All-Star, with Jonah Kubicek of NBA Analysis Network labelling the Bay as one of three possible destinations for Towns in the wake of the (New York) Knicks' playoff elimination.”
“Perhaps the Warriors could make it work, but the risk of doing so is far too substantial given both players are making in excess of $50 million next season. It's the contract and Butler history that ultimately makes Towns an implausible fit even if his skill set would otherwise make him an obvious trade target.”
“The 29-year-old averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists with the Knicks this season, having shot 52.6% from the floor and 42% from 3-point range on nearly five attempts per game.”
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Butler and Towns competed alongside each other in Minnesota from 2017 to 2018. With the two stars leading the way for the Timberwolves, the franchise secured 47 regular-season wins and punched its ticket to the postseason.
Unsurprisingly, the Houston Rockets made short work of the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, but there was optimism that they could take a step forward in the 2018-19 season.
However, after Butler grew weary of his teammates’ (Towns included) low effort and energy before the start of the 2018 training camp, the six-time All-Star forward asked the organization for a trade.
Butler received his wish in mid-November, as the Timberwolves traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster deal.
There’s no question that Towns didn’t make the best impression on Butler nearly a decade ago. When a star player manages to defeat most of the starting unit in a scrimmage while playing with fringe NBA players, it’s time for immediate self-reflection.
Still, regarding Talent, Towns’ ability to stretch the floor with his confident three-point stroke, explode to the rim when opponents overplay him and make winning plays in the final minutes of contests, could make a reunion with Butler work.
Towns averaged a double-double on a Knicks team that reached the Eastern Conference finals this season.
The Kentucky product could soon be viewed as a potential trade target for Golden State.
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