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Landing Jimmy Butler is a Dream That Won’t Come True

By Jeremy Karll

Oct 30, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) talks to guard Derrick Rose (1) during overtime against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) talks to guard Derrick Rose (1) during overtime against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons won 98-94. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston can hope to land Jimmy Butler, but it won’t happen

Danny Ainge is trying to use all his firepower to land a star player this summer. A lot of names Ainge might be targeting have been thrown out, however, none more so than Jimmy Butler. The Chicago Bulls shooting guard is coming off his second straight All-Star appearance and his third consecutive NBA All-Defensive Second Team honor.

The Bulls finished the season 42-40 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season though. There’s no doubt that changes need to be made in Chicago if they want to re-enter their glory days, however, I’m not sold on the fact that they want to move Butler.

For starters, Basketball Insiders reported that the Bulls would rather move Derrick Rose than Butler. That should come as no surprise as Rose is entering the final year of his contract in which he’s set to be paid $21.3 million, despite not playing like his former MVP-self after numerous leg injuries. There has also been reported tension between Rose and Butler over the past couple of seasons as both players believe Chicago is their team and don’t want to give up ground.

Trading an injury-prone point guard won’t be easy, however, it’s also not as impossible as one may imagine. Rose could be traded to a bottom-feeder team who is looking to reach the floor on the salary cap. If that’s the case then Chicago would much rather move on from the hometown hero as they’re not expected to bring him back after this season.

Still, trading Butler isn’t off the table. Even though Butler signed a 5 year, $90 million deal last off-season, changing the culture of a team who has been good, but always a smidgen short, might be the right move. When it comes down to it though, I think Chicago realizes they have one of the best two-way players in the game and don’t want to give him up.

Still, that hasn’t stopped the Bulls from listening to offers – listening, not actively shopping Butler. The Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves are presumably the frontrunners if the Bulls decided to let go of their All-Star shooting guard as both teams have an abundance of assets. Both teams can offer a top-five pick that can be used to select point guard Kris Dunn – ushering in a new era for the Bulls – and also young players.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The problem is, the Celtics don’t want to pay the steep price it’ll take to land Butler. They were in the beginning of talks with the Bulls at the deadline but once the Bulls wanted Jae Crowder in the trade, Boston quickly backed out. Crowder is developing into one of the best two-way players in the game, and is arguably the most valuable Celtic, however, he’s far-from the level Butler is playing at.

The Celtics will need to send over Crowder or a future Brooklyn Nets pick as part of a trade to land Butler, and I don’t think they’re willing to do that. Not landing Butler wouldn’t be all bad though as the Nets could end up landing the first overall selection for the Celtics in two loaded draft classes. Maybe trading away a valuable piece like that isn’t a risk Danny Ainge wants to take, however, the Bulls won’t give up Butler on a low-ball offer.

For people who want to throw together the 16th and 23rd picks, and Avery Bradley, that’s absolutely ridiculous. The Bulls are trying to find their next franchise player if they trade away their star shooting guard. Bradley is a good starter in the NBA, however, he’s far from the production Butler gives and mid-first round picks are nothing more than potential bench players or average starters.

There’s no doubt that landing a star player for as little as possible is the objective, however, there’s a reason why blockbuster trades rarely happen. It’s so hard to find a franchise player who can lead your team – what Boston is looking for – so when you decide to trade him away you at least want the opportunity to have a chance at landing another star in the future.

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That’s why Minnesota would have the offer Andrew Wiggins and the fifth pick to even have the Bulls interested, and why Boston would need to add Jae Crowder and/or a future Nets pick.

Nick Friedell, Chicago Bulls writer for ESPN, and Chris Forsberg, Boston Celtics writer for ESPN, tried to hammer out a potential trade between the two sides. They came to the conclusion of the Bulls receiving Jae Crowder (or the 16th/23rd picks), Avery Bradley, the 3rd pick, and a future Brooklyn pick. Friedell admitted that Celtics’ fans will be outraged at that idea, however, Forsberg knew that’s the type of deal it would take to not only land Jimmy Butler, but any star.

As much as we want to believe that Jae Crowder can become the next Jimmy Butler or that Avery Bradley is a better two-way player because he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, it’s just not true. Neither is the Bulls taking the Celtics seriously if they don’t throw in the 3rd pick and a future Brooklyn selection.

Next: Draft Profile: Malik Beasley

If the Celtics really want to land a star then that’s what it’s going to take. I’m not sold that Danny Ainge wants to gut the team like that, but he’ll have to eventually if the Celtics want to take the next step.

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