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5 trades the Cavs can make for Jimmy Butler

By Quenton S. Albertie

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw against the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw against the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Trade scenario #4

Cavs receive: Jimmy Butler, Tyus Jones

Timberwolves receive: Kevin Love, future first-round pick

This is perhaps the best trade the the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves could make, a simple star swap.

As previously mentioned, both are talented and versatile players with a number of career accolades but Butler is a much better defender and considered one of the best two-way wings in the league.

Having a dominant two-way wing is almost essential to winning in the league and looking back at the NBA champions over the years, players like Kevin Durant, LeBron  James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have dominated the Finals and led their teams to championships because they fit that archetype.

It’s not a necessity, perhaps, but it makes a team much harder to beat when they have an All-Star wing player.

Love plays a valuable position as well but in today’s league, guards and wings run the NBA.

Love has been doing well after switches in training camp and Towns came into the league with a stellar defensive reputation (defense that has yet to be shown consistently at the pro level), so there’s a chance that the duo could work out as Twin Towers.

However, if their interior defense is disastrous, then they’ll be hard-pressed to keep the duo together. As a result of the potential challenges and the talent gap between Butler and Love, the Wolves also receive a future first-round pick.

Point guard Tyus Jones is unlikely to get playing time with everyone healthy but be an invaluable role player if one of the players ahead of him on the depth chart are injured. He’s a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ as a lead guard.