NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics front-runner for Jimmy Butler?

Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls could be a trade option for the Boston Celtics. Could the Celtics pull off the move before the deadline?

There was a time when Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler was primarily a defensive ace. Now, teams are looking at Butler as a missing piece to compete for an NBA title. The Bulls currently sit at 28-29, with the pairing of Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo not being the marriage that the Bulls envisioned.

The Boston Celtics, however, have made the ascension to the top of the East with a 37-20 record. Although the Celtics sit at second place in the East behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, the general consensus doesn’t present them as a threat to the Cavaliers current throne.

That could change, of course, with a trade for a major star such as Butler. Reportedly, the Celtics will give away young veterans and draft picks just to nab Butler, according to CSN New England. The Bulls have resisted overtures for Butler in the past, particularly on draft night, but if the Celtics give the Bulls an offer they can’t refuse, Bulls general manager Gar Forman may be inclined to change his approach and begin a full-on rebuild.

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The Celtics already have emerging superstar in Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging 29.9 points per game. Their next two best players are Avery Bradley, a defensive ace averaging 17.7 points per game and Al Horford, a big man who can stretch the floor.

If you add Butler, who’s averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game, that would be considered enough to compete with the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. As always, though, we can only imagine this scenario until it plays out in real life.