Report: Raptors Want In On Jimmy Butler Trade

As the Miami Heat continue to talk to contenders about a Jimmy Butler trade, one unexpected team has thrown their hat into the ring, wanting to be a part of any deal, as a third or fourth team.

Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reported this weekend that the Toronto Raptors "are hoping to insinuate themselves into the conversation".

It’s not that they want Butler: His skill set, age, $52-million (U.S.) player option for next season, and longer-term financial desires make him about ill-suited to join this roster. But general manager Bobby Webster and president Masai Ujiri are trying to be facilitators — and benefactors — in what ultimately happens with Butler.

They should be able to leverage their slew of expiring contracts into garnering some draft picks, as an extra team in a deal to help salaries match for the main trading partners.

Toronto has about $40 million in total expiring money for pending free agents Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher and Davion Mitchell. That could help some team make up a salary-matching gap in trading for the $49 million contract of Butler.

Whatever they get back in any trade, it would be unlikely that the Raptors would want to do anything to interfere with their tanking aspirations, which aren't bad right now. They currently sit at 10-32, with the second-worst record (and second BEST lottery odds) in the NBA.