Report: Jimmy Butler wants to play with Kyrie Irving


Rumor has that Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving are scheming on how to play together.

The source of that rumor, the Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley, writes for the same publication that was first to break the news that Irving wanted out of the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer, so their source shouldn't necessarily be dismissed out of hand, but I wouldn't go making any prop bets yet, either.

Says Cowley:

"A league source close to the situation told the Sun-Times on Tuesday that Kyrie Irving and former Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler are still trying to figure out a way to play together. Whether that means the Celtics try and acquire Butler this summer or the two simply wait a year, both opt out of their player options after the season, and join forces that way. Either way, the two former Team USA Basketball teammates are looking for a destination to build an elite backcourt, whether that’s in Celtics green or elsewhere in the East."

It's certainly not out of the question that Boston could put together a sign-and-trade with Marcus Smart as the centerpiece, but any such move would require some creativity, as well as cutting into the minutes available for Boston's young wings, especially Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.


It's certainly something to keep an eye on, but for now, I wouldn't put too much stock in this rumor.
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Image: Paul Beatty/AP
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