Another #WojBomb has been dropped.
Moments ago, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweeted that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls have engaged in trade talks around Jimmy Butler this week.
Sources: Chicago’s price for Jimmy Butler remains elevated, but Minnesota has assets and interest. Sides made preliminary contact this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) June 19, 2017
This isn’t the first we’re hearing of a potential Butler-Timberwolves deal. Leading up to the draft and on draft night last year, many reports surfaced that Chicago and Minnesota spoke about sending Butler to the Timberwolves for a package of players and the #5 pick Minnesota used to land Providence point guard Kris Dunn.
Butler and Timberwolves President/head coach Tom Thibodeau have a rich history together. Under Thibs’ tutelage, Jimmy became one of the best defensive wings in the NBA and earned the Most Improved Player award in 2015.
The sides couldn’t agree to terms a year ago, and Minnesota kept Dunn. The Bulls reportedly haven’t changed their extremely high asking price for Butler. Given his ascension to an All-NBA level player, the asking price could be higher than it was a year ago. Will the Wolves pick in the 2017 draft (#7 overall) and two young players like Zach LaVine and Dunn be enough for the Bulls? Will the Wolves be willing to surrender two pieces of their young core?
Also worth noting, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune added that the Phoenix Suns could also be in play for a pre-draft Butler trade.
Suns are another team to watch, per source. https://t.co/tuXWT9c8rF
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) June 19, 2017
Just minutes later, ESPN’s Marc Stein dropped this bomb:
The Cavaliers, per league sources, have been working today on assembling multi-team trade scenarios to try to acquire Chicago's Jimmy Butler
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 19, 2017
Jimmy teaming up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland? That might get them one step closer to challenging the Warriors next season.
We’ll keep you posted on further developments.
