The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics agreed to swap first round picks (with more future picks coming from Philly) in this week’s NBA draft. Naturally, everyone in the NBA’s Twittersphere – especially in Chicago – exploded with panic and hypothetical scenarios regarding the future of Bulls star Jimmy Butler.
“Does this mean Celtics president Danny Ainge is finally ready to hand over a portion of his stockpiled draft picks to trade for Butler?”
“What players (if any) will Boston offer to Chicago this time? Are Avery Bradley and Jaylen Brown still unattainable? Do we even want Jae Crowder?”
“Will Boston’s #3 overall pick and the 2018 pick they’re owed from Brooklyn both be included? Would Bulls management make a deal that doesn’t include both?”
To those Bulls fans out there rifling through these questions in a never-ending furious pace – ‘sup, Fred – allow me to give you some free advice: chill.
Nothing’s Changed
Okay, well, one thing changed. The 76ers are picking first this week, and will likely use that pick to draft Washington guard Markelle Fultz. But from the Bulls’ perspective? The status quo remains the same.
Gar Forman and John Paxson reassured Butler and Bulls fans alike at their season-ending press conference: they value Jimmy. And they won’t trade him away just to do it. If you read between the lines, you could tell that Paxson is terrified of a full-scale rebuild. Unless the Bulls get a king’s ransom in return, they’re keeping Butler.
Some NBA brains believe that Ainge will use his new collection of future picks (Brooklyn’s in 2018, Lakers first round pick in 2018/Kings pick in 2019) to finally pry Butler away from the Bulls. Count Stephen A. Smith among those believing in this theory:
.@stephenasmith just said Bulls wanted #3 pick from Philly for Butler, now Celtics angling for Butler then Hayward. pic.twitter.com/ycSgrrrHhf
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 19, 2017
The local media, however, believes that the most recent wave of Butler-Celtics talk around the web is buzz and nothing else.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported this morning that according to his three league sources, no new substantial talks between Chicago and Boston have taken place.
“As of Sunday, the talk is based more on speculation than reality, a stance that at least three league executives the Tribune spoke to over the weekend don’t expect to change by Thursday. There is plenty of belief within the league and the Bulls organization that the Celtics are poised to use the No. 3 pick Thursday and then pursue Jazz All-Star Gordon Hayward in free agency come July.” – K.C. Johnson
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times agrees.
“Sources indicated that the asking price for Butler remains almost insurmountable, and that also won’t change as Thursday approaches. So while many on the outside have enjoyed trying to connect the Butler-to-Boston dots, they have failed to take into account Michael Reinsdorf’s competitiveness. Butler has reached All-NBA status at age 27, and the feeling is that Michael wants Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson to prove they can build around that type of talent.” – Joe Cowley
My sources are telling me the same. The Bulls aren’t actively shopping Butler for Philadelphia’s pick or Boston’s picks. They’re not shopping him at all. GarPax will continue to perform their due diligence by answering the phone, but unless offers from Boston are significantly better than the ones they heard last year, Butler will stay put. Just because the Celtics might still want Butler (if you believe Stephen A.) it doesn’t mean the Bulls are ready to part with him.
Keep it at Sports Mockery for the latest developments on the Jimmy Butler situation as we near the NBA draft on Thursday. If you want to talk further about trade scenarios, find me on Twitter @Bulls_Peck.
