Jimmy Butler trade idea: 3-team deal with Boston and Brooklyn
If the Chicago Bulls want to trade Jimmy Butler by the Feb. 23 trade deadline, Gar Forman may still get the Boston Celtics’ 2017 first round pick (via the Brooklyn Nets) but may not like players they offer. The Nets want a first-rounder for any Brook Lopez trade. Here’s an idea for three NBA teams to get what they want.
The Boston Celtics want Jimmy Butler to build another “Big 3” of their own with Isaiah Thomas, Butler and Al Horford as their stretch-five center.
As for the Brooklyn Nets, they may want to let go of All-Star center Brook Lopez for more players who may help them rebuild faster, and the Nets are reportedly asking for a first round pick in exchange.
The Chicago Bulls are slowly, but surely retooling the core of the team to move forward without starting from scratch and still be competitive for the playoffs, whatever seed they may land.
If Forman talks with Celtics general manger Danny Ainge and Sean Marks, the Nets’ GM, they could arrange a trade that looks like this:
- Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler, Bobby Portis and their 2017 first round pick are traded to the Brooklyn Nets
- Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez and Caris LeVert are sent to the Bulls, while receiving the Bulls’ 2017 first round draft pick (17th overall right now), then the Nets keep Portis and trade Butler to Boston for a slew of players
- Boston Celtics: Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and Avery Bradley are all sent to Brooklyn for Jimmy Butler, then Boston sends their 2017 (Nets) first round pick to Chicago.
Boston finally get Jimmy Butler, but it will cost them plenty. They retain a team with Jimmy Butler, Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, Marcus Smart and Amir Johnson. Although their team gets gutted by the trade, and may weaken their playoff run this year, it may be what Danny Ainge wants.
Brooklyn gets rid of Brook Lopez and gains the core of Boston’s young studs, in effect, recovering their first-rounder last year with Jaylen Brown, and getting Bobby Portis as a stretch-four who fits their 3-point shooting system, plus Rozier and Bradley AND they get the Bulls’ 2017 first round draft pick to get the big man to replace Brook Lopez.
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Chicago gets Brook Lopez playing alongside his brother Robin on the team for a competitive playoff run, but more importantly, they steal Caris LeVert from the Nets and get Boston’s first 2017 first round pick (via the Nets) that could turn into something special. The Chicago Bulls don’t need anyone in the current draft if they can steal LeVert.
What the Bulls need to do is risk their 2017 draft pick as part of a package 3-way trade to the Celtics and Nets for LeVert, who after recovering from his foot injuries, is now showing how much of a steal in the draft he is right now. He can work as a possible Hoiball cog if Gar Forman spots him on his radar.
If and when the Bulls do decide to trade Jimmy Butler in a major player shuffle for this year, a three-way swap with the right pieces works out right.
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Getting LeVert provides the Bulls with a hedge if Rajon Rondo opts-out of his contract next year. LeVert can pass over the defense because he is 6’7″ and is a pass-first point guard who makes quick decisions when teammates are open. LeVert also has a 3-point shot in his arsenal and the handles and footwork to weave and slash inside and take it to the rim. LeVert is the steal in this trade and the Nets top-10 lottery pick from the Boston Celtics is fair value for Jimmy Butler.
Since no one on the Celtics roster currently looks good enough to give playing minutes at the expense of the current Bulls guys, a Brook Lopez acquisition is a better filler if Taj Gibson is also moved out and he ramps up the Bulls front court to form the former Stanford bruiser pair that gives other teams fits the way Steven Adams was a monster for the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year’s playoffs.
The Bulls can’t get any better than this trade if they are looking to compete this year and next with the addition of Caris LeVert, and it saves their lottery pick from Boston to get a playmaker if Rondo leaves. LeVert has proven his worth as a big point guard with the Nets, running the pick-and-roll like a seasoned pro and whipping passes around.
Next: With Taj Gibson's future in doubt, Bulls should look to '17 draft for help
With the Bulls, I hope he would have a breakout season switching with Michael Carter-Williams as a starter or replacing Rajon Rondo as the playmaker of the second unit.