Miami Heat: Minnesota Timberwolves Make Bold Jimmy Butler Trade Decision

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Jimmy Butler share plenty of history and unfortunately, it is not a happy one. Despite that, as the 35-year-old looks to leave the Miami Heat before the trade deadline, his former team could be involved.

The Timberwolves do not want to take Butler back to Minnesota though. Surely not after how that relationship ended the first time around. But it looks like they are looking to help facilitate a trade happen.

In recent days, it has been widely reported that the Toronto Raptors are willing to participate as a third- or fourth-team facilitator in a Butler trade and they are not the only ones.

According to Aaditya Krishnamurthy in FadeAway World, Marc Stein reported on his Sunday update thread: "When I relayed that to one well-placed source, I was told that "about half the league" has made similar feelings known to the Heat as they try to concoct a trade that brings this saga to an end."

"That group is believed to include the Timberwolves... but, again, in the role of trade facilitator and not with the intent to bring Butler back to Minnesota after he unforgettably forced a trade from the Timberwolves to the 76ers during the 2018-19 season."

One has to wonder if this is a sign that the Timberwolves are already considering parting ways with Julius Randle.

Randle arrived in Minnesota as part of the trade that saw Karl Anthony-Towns join the New York Knicks.

While Towns seems to be thriving in New York, Randle's numbers have dipped in pretty much every facet of the game.

Of course, Butler is the main part of the story and it remains to be seen where he ends up if he does successfully leave Miami this summer. He has made his intentions very clear and the belief is that the Heat are looking to part ways before the trade deadline rather than letting this saga drag on until the offseason.

Engineering a trade for Butler is not simple though owing to his age, injury history and contract. The manner in which he often leaves teams is not a positive attribute either.