5 stars the Boston Celtics should try to trade for

2. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

While a trade involving Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for Zach Lavine and Kris Dunn was very real last summer, the Bulls have remained adamant that Jimmy Butler is not on the trade block. They have moved on from the Derrick Rose era and have Butler locked down for at least the next two seasons after this one. The Bulls are in the midst of the Jimmy Butler era and have brought on Dwyane Wade to help him along.

The Bulls are 19-18, 5-5 in their last 10 games, and are barely in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Jimmy Butler has been playing the best basketball of his career and it has kept them afloat. Consistency outside of Butler has eluded this team. Chicago’s Rajon Rondo experiment has been a mess and their best lineups of late feature no point guard.

Unless head coach Fred Hoiberg finds a way to get consistent production out of the Bulls’ young players they will be likely stuck at this level. Unless they improve soon, either him or Jimmy Butler may be on their way out of Chicago.

The Celtics could surely use Jimmy Butler on their squad. It may cost them at least Jae Crowder and a Brooklyn pick or two, but that is a small price to pay for the 27-year-old Olympic gold medalist. If Butler is truly available for the right cost, they should explore it. Few, if any, play LeBron James better than Butler, and this move could be what puts them over the top and into the Finals.