OKC Thunder rivals secure Jimmy Butler in splashy mock trade

The NBA world recently received a shocker with the New York Post reporting that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler could leave the team for the Brooklyn Nets next summer. The report triggered waves of reactions from many, enticing fans and pundits with the prospects of a potential superstar trade.

Butler has played five seasons in South Beach, leading the franchise to a pair of NBA Finals appearances, all while seating himself as the undisputed face of the franchise. However, he could be on the move, which has instigated several mock trades that could happen.

Jimmy joins OKC’s rival in a mock trade

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has already compiled a list of mock trades that have some serious potential. Of the trade packages listed, the Oklahoma City Thunder are not one of the teams involved in any deals. However, their Western Conference rivals, the Denver Nuggets, may have the requisite pieces to swing a deal for the six-time NBA All-Star.

Denver receives: Butler, Alec Burks

Miami receives: Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, 2031 first-round pick swap.

“But there isn't a player in the world who'd be better at leveraging Butler's cutting and slashing than Jokić's,” writes Bailey . “The two-man game between those two would be unstoppable, giving the Nuggets another late-game option beyond the Jokić and Jamal Murray interplay. This move could also torpedo Denver's depth, but it'd give the Nuggets a slightly more dynamic, playoff-ready top five or six.”

The clear favorites in the West?

It’s clear the Thunder will have stiff competition in the West, not just next season but for several years. The franchise arguably improved the most this summer of any team in the last few years, starting with its decision to swap Josh Giddey for an NBA champion and lockdown defender in Alex Caruso. OKC went after Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, inking the big man to a nearly $90 million contract, which capped off a fortnight of landscape-shaking moves.

While the Bricktown boys lead the way for now, Denver landing Butler would undeniably make them better, as pairing the five-time All-NBA forward with three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic would give the Michael Malone-coached Nuggets an upper hand in numerous areas.

Jimmy delivers toughness, spirit, a vocal leader, championship experience, and the perfect alpha-dog personality to assemble a trio of stars with him, Jokic, and ascending point guard Jamal Murray.

Regardless of this trade actually happening, OKC must stay alert and prepare for teams to try and make some striking moves to counter what it has in terms of rich depth and one of the league’s best threesomes in Shai Gigeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.

Related: Josh Giddey has a chance to earn a 100 million dollar contract after getting traded by OKC