NBA Free Agency: 5 Best fits for Jimmy Butler in 2019

Jimmy Butler has long been one the best two-way wings in the NBA. The 4-time All-Star averaged over 20 points a game in each of his last four seasons while receiving All-NBA and All-Defensive honors.

The Bulls traded Butler to the Timberwolves, after barely making it to the playoffs in the 2016-17 season. He wanted to be more successful with the young, promising crew in Minnesota, but history repeated itself for Butler; a tough reach to the playoffs, followed by a first-round exit.

That ignited rumors about him wanting out of Minnesota, supposedly because of the "nonchalant" attitude some of the young players of the team have, hinting at Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Butler will be 30-years-old following his 2019 player-option and will have no time to wait for them to develop a sense of competition like his.

If his second year with the T-Wolves will be similar to the first, Jimmy will dip his toe in the free agency pool. This time, with the control in his hands, he will choose a team that has both young players and a hunger for winning.

Here is a look at the top 5 teams who will make the best fit for Jimmy Butler and can offer him a spot on their roster.

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#5 Los Angeles Clippers

Can the new look Clippers be a new home for Butler?

After parting ways with DeAndre Jordan this offseason, the Clippers have officially put an end to the "Lob City" era. But unlike other teams, who get into full rebuild mode and start tanking after losing a superstar, the Clippers decided to stay competitive and are setting their eyes towards the 2019 free agency class.

The Clippers are expected to have between $50M to $65M in cap space by 2019. With this kind of money, they can sign two big-time players and get their way back to the top.

According to some rumors around the league, Kawhi Leonard might consider choosing the Clippers over the Lakers this summer. Teaming him with Butler could create one of the best wing duos in the league, on both ends of the floor.

Staying in the west will make it more difficult for Butler to get offseason success, but with the option of adding another superstar, some young players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson who will add scoring and athleticism, and a championship winning coach, the Clippers should have a lot to say in the Butler sweepstakes.

#4 Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are ready to be relevant again

It seems like the Nets weren't linked to a high-profile free agent in ages. Just to amplify how bad they were recently, last year's 28-win season was their best in three years. And if that's not enough, they couldn't even earn high first-round picks for those bad seasons, thanks to that horrific trade with Boston back in 2013.

However, this draft nightmare is now over, Brooklyn have some young talent in Dinwiddie, Russell and Allen and they're ready to finally challenge for a playoff spot in the next few years. The level of Eastern Conference teams is continuously dropping, and adding a guy like Butler should give the Nets a serious chance to make an offseason appearance.

If Butler is looking for a team in the east, as some reports claim, Brooklyn is a legitimate option; they have the cap space to sign a big star and are located in a very big market.

#3 Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers can surprise us again

The Pacers might have been the most surprising team in the Eastern Conference last season. After trading away Paul George, many believed Indiana will be one of the worse teams in the league.

But that wasn't the case, obviously, thanks to an All-Star season from Victor Oladipo, one of the pieces they got back in the George trade, who averaged over 23 points and led the league in steals per game with 2.4. With the very modest roster, they had this year, they managed to take LeBron's Cavs to a seven-game series, including an impressive 121-87 win in game 6.

With the improvement of Myles Turner, who can stretch the floor and protect the rim, Butler could form a solid big-three in Indiana who can compete with the young teams from Boston and Philadelphia.

Indiana will be the dark horse of the Eastern Conference in the next few years, with young and competitive players, checking almost every category in Butler's wish list.

#2 Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are on the right track to complete the process

Barring injuries, the Sixers should be a finals candidate in the near future. They have one of the best big-men in the game in Joel Embiid, 6-10 point guard and Rookie of the Year, Ben Simmons, and plenty of other young and impressive players.

But in a star-driven league like the NBA, adding another superstar could be the thing to give you the edge over your opponents.

Butler will fit perfectly with Philly; he won't step on Embiid's or Simmons' toes, he will upgrade their wing positions significantly, he can shoot from deep and will toughen their defense. Assuming the Sixers missed the Kawhi Leonard option, Butler might have the skill-set closest to his among available players in the market.

The development of young players like Fultz, Smith and Shamet will have a lot of influence on Butler's chances to join the Sixers, but under any circumstances, they should be very high on his list.

#1 New York Knicks

Can the new crew in the Garden change the Knicks?

Taking into account the big city they represent and the fact that they play in the world's most famous arena, the New York Knicks just might be the most disappointing franchise in the NBA right now. They made the playoffs only five times in the last 18 seasons, making it to the second round only once.

Now they have a very promising front office team, led by Scott Perry and Steve Mills, and a sought-after coach in David Fizdale, even though he is their 12th coach since their last NBA Finals in the late '90s.

The Knicks future largely depends on Kristaps Porzingis' recovery from his torn ACL. Players around the league will love to play with the Latvian unicorn, especially Kyrie Irving, who allegedly wants to play at The Big Apple and already talked to Butler about going there.

If Porzingis can bounce back from a difficult injury like this one, an Irving and Butler team-up at the Garden will be a great show to watch.