Trade targets: Richardson, Adebayo

Report: Timberwolves have eye on 2 players, pick in deal for Butler

MIAMI — As the trade discussions between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, as confirmed by the Sun Sentinel, have moved into a second week, ESPN is reporting the key pieces sought by Minnesota for All-Star forward Jimmy Butler are forward Josh Richardson and center Bam Adebayo, as well as a protected 2019 first-round NBA draft pick.

The Heat have been reluctant to move Richardson, who is entering the first season of a four-year, $42 million extension. That total stands as less than Butler, 29, would earn in the final season of the five-year contract he is eligible for in free agency next summer.

Adebayo stands with arguably the second-most cost-effective contract on the Heat roster, remaining on the rookie scale from his selection in the first round of the 2017 draft out of Kentucky.

Such a trade permutation would have to be expanded if the Heat were to also meet the desire of the Timberwolves to unload the contract of power forward Gorgui Dieng, who has three seasons at $48 million remaining on his contract.

The Heat on Thursday at their practice at American-Airlines Arena again declined to make players or members of the team’s staff available to respond to the trade speculation, as has been the case since last week’s start of training camp.

The Heat have not made a transformative trade since acquiring guard Goran Dragic from the Phoenix Suns at the February 2015 NBA trading deadline for two first-round picks, the first of which was exercised this past June, with the Heat’s 2021 selection also dealt in that transaction.

The Heat, in the interim, have added several players thought to be potential trade chips, such as James Johnson and Dion Waiters. Those player, however, have not attracted outside interest.

The Heat are limited in their maneuverability with draft picks. Because teams cannot trade suc-

cessive future picks, the Heat are ineligible to deal their 2020 or 2022 firstround selections.

The 2021 first-round pick dealt to the Suns, which is non-protected, now belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Butler, Richardson and Adebayo have yet to play this preseason. The Timberwolves have allowed Butler to remain away from the team in the wake of his trade request, with Richardson and Adebayo sidelined by injuries sustained in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at Florida Atlantic University.

Butler has expressed an interest in playing for the Heat, which is an essential element in any trade, with his right to become a free agent on July 1. The Heat lack the cap space to sign Butler as a free agent in 2019 NBA free agency.

The New York Times reported Wednesday night, “The Wolves and Heat were making significant progress on a Jimmy Butler trade this week, league sources say, before deal changes proposed by Minnesota led to a breakdown in talks.”

In the wake of that Twitter post by veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, posted, “Miami, Minnesota have been consistently engaged in Jimmy Butler talks for several days, with Heat pushing Timberwolves for an answer [Wednesday] on a revised offer, league sources tell ESPN. Minnesota’s conversations are relatively sparse elsewhere; remain focused on Miami.”

Among other teams team linked to interest in Butler or interest from Butler are the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks.

The Heat complete a three-game preseasonopening trip Friday against the Washington Wizards, before closing out their preseason schedule with three games at American-Airlines Arena.

The Heat, currently carrying the NBA offseason limit of 20 players, open the regular season on Oct. 17 against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. NBA teams must cut to a maximum of 15 players, plus as many as two twoway players, by Oct. 15.

As for Butler, Wojnarowski reported of Minnesota’s coach, “Barring a trade, Tom Thibodeau is still determined to get Butler back with the team for start of season.

Butler hasn’t made a final decision on when he’ll join team and practice, but he doesn’t plan to miss regular season games if his wrist is healthy.”