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NBA Roundtable: Jimmy Butler, the Warriors and the Beasts of the East

By Michael Saenz

NBA Boston Celtics Brad Stevens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
NBA Boston Celtics Brad Stevens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 30: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 30: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

What is one dream trade you wished had taken place this summer?

Schmahl: Jimmy Butler to the Rockets for Eric Gordon, Nene, and a 2019 1st round pick. A Big 3 of Harden-Paul-Butler would be the most talented in the league and probably make Houston the title favorites. Butler fills all of the Rockets holes (a lack of perimeter defenders/toughness/depth) and would finally be in a position to contend for a championship. At this point, a Warriors-Rockets rematch would be so much fun on so many parts. Paul vs. Curry. Butler vs. Thompson. Harden vs. Durant. Capela vs. Cousins. Anthony vs. Green. D’Antoni vs. Kerr. Morey vs. Myers.

The matchups would be salivating. The 2019 West Finals would essentially be the 2018 West Finals on steroids. Anthony Davis to the Lakers would also be a tantalizing dream trade, but the Klutch signing tells me he should be in Hollywood by 2020 either way.

Osborne: Jimmy Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks. In a dream scenario the Bucks trade Bledsoe and some smaller players in exchange for Butler. A potential lineup of Brogdon-Butler-Middleton- Antetokounmpo-Lopez would give Milwaukee a real shot at the Celtics for the top spot in the East. The thought of seeing the Warriors and Bucks in the Finals would make for some great TV even if the series didn’t last long.

Doole: Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers. Even as a Lakers fan, I was excited when I saw this deal being floated. Just picture it – after a few years of the Lakers struggling, and plenty more years of the Clippers struggling, both LA franchises find a superstar within months of each other. It could have been the birth of a true Los Angeles rivalry, one where both teams build from the ground up with their new centrepieces.

Four times a year, we could have gotten to see Kawhi and LeBron going head-to-head at Staples Center. Who knows, maybe we would’ve even gotten a seven- game series of it come April. Alas, Leonard is in Toronto and the Clippers are still star-less. Who knows, maybe he’ll sign there next summer, and we’ll still get the rivalry Hollywood deserves.

Butler: I was hoping that the Knicks made a play for Kawhi Leonard. I know that they are clearing cap space for next summer, but I feel as though they’ve done that every year for a decade. Remember the summer of 2010 when Spike Lee and the rest of the Knicks faithful thought Kings James was coming to The Garden?

A sign and trade for Kawhi to play alongside Porzingis would have set the stage for Kyrie Irving to join the squad in 2019. Instead, we are stuck watching the Knicks execute their “wait until next year” mentality for another season. NBA basketball just feels better when the Knicks are good, and we’ve been without that feeling for way too long.

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