5 trades the Cavs can make for Jimmy Butler

Trade scenario #5

Cavs receive: Jimmy Butler, Gorgui Dieng

Timberwolves receive: Rodney Hood, J.R. Smith, George Hill, conditional first-round pick

If Rodney Hood is playing well enough to be seen as a primary piece of the trade, he may not even get traded considering that he’ll be cheaper to re-sign than Butler and he’s keen on returning next year. Furthermore, Hood would have to waive his no-trade clause and give up his Bird Rights to be traded to any team, which is unlikely.

However, if there’s a trade that allows the Cavs to build a Big Three of Sexton, Butler and Love, this is it.

The Wolves would be receiving a versatile scorer in Hood who is efficient from three (36.8 career shooting percentage from three-point range) and would become their primary deep threat given the lack of consistency from three-point range shown by Towns, Andrew Wiggins and the rest of the starters, sans Jeff Teague.

With the Wolves, particularly with Thibodeau’s infamous minute dispersion, he would have all the opportunity he wanted tin show he can be a top player on a playoff team.

However, just because it’s a fit for him as a player doesn’t mean he’ll be willing to lose his Bird Rights. Especially when he has a similar chance to make an impact where he already is.

While one of Smith or Hill had to be dealt to make salaries work, the other was included because of their partially guaranteed contract and the likelihood that the Timberwolves try to attach Dieng’s bloated contract in any Butler deal.

The conditional first-round pick is simply a trade sweetener.

Will any of these trades appeal to either side?