Chicago Bulls NBA Trade Rumors: Jimmy Butler Is 'As Good As Gone' After the Season?
Jimmy Butler has been playing the best basketball of his career this season, but that didn't stop the trade rumors from popping up before the trade deadline. Talk about moving Butler might have died down when he wasn't moved in February, but things would definitely pick up once again in the summer.
Citing a front office source, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor has even reported that Butler is "as good as gone" in the offseason. O'Connor didn't elaborate, but it sounds like the Chicago Bulls are planning to rebuild next season.
A number of teams were linked to Butler in the lead-up to the trade deadline, but his most interesting suitor were the Boston Celtics. The team has a lot of young players and draft picks and they might go after Butler again if the Bulls place him on the trading block after the season.
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The Celtics are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference and their interest in Butler will probably depend on how they perform in the playoffs as well as their placement in the draft.
"If they come close to winning the East or even succeed in doing that and lose the Finals, Danny Ainge might finally see this as the championship window worth moving future assets for another bonafide star to make a push next season," Uproxx's Robby Kalland said in his report.
"Once the NBA Draft Lottery happens we'll know where Boston's 2017 picks will be, and that could have an effect on what they're willing to part with," he continued.
Of course, the Celtics may also end up chasing Paul George instead if he's available, so a Butler to Boston trade may not materialize at all if that happens.
Aside from the Celtics, O'Connor believes the Minnesota Timberwolves may be a potential landing spot for Butler as well. However, that scenario will depend on the possibility of the Wolves getting the top pick in the draft.
