Fansided

NBA Trade Rumors: 76ers were close to trading No. 3 pick for Jimmy Butler

By Akash Anavarathan

Apr 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) is fouled while shooting by Philadelphia 76ers guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) is fouled while shooting by Philadelphia 76ers guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the NBA Draft on Thursday night, the trade rumors are in full swing. It’s being reported that the 76ers almost traded the No. 3 pick for Jimmy Butler.

Wow, the Philadelphia 76ers had a chance at Jimmy Butler and passed on him for Markelle Fultz. According to Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take this morning, he heard from NBA sources that the Chicago Bulls were in contact with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It seems that before the 76ers went on to trade the No. 3 overall pick to the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 overall pick, they considered adding the Bulls’ best player. So why didn’t they follow through with that trade?

According to Smith, Philadelphia and Jerry Colangelo are happy with their youth movement and building a nucleus around Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and potentially, Markelle Fultz. Minutes after the 76ers turned down the Bulls’ offer, they immediately turned to the Celtics to move up in the NBA Draft.

As reported earlier in the week, Philadelphia will send the No. 3 overall pick and either a 2018 first-round pick from Los Angeles or a 2019 first-round pick from Sacramento to Boston. In exchange, Boston would send the No. 1 overall pick, which could potentially — and probably, if you follow Joel Embiid on social media — turn into Markelle Fultz.

Next: NBA Free Agency 2017: 20 best players available

That would give the 76ers a core of Embiid, Simmons, Fultz and Dario Saric. That could be a young core that could develop into something exciting in the future, assuming they stay healthy. On the other hand, it looks like the Chicago Bulls are trying to openly shop Jimmy Butler, even though he’s under contract for another two years. It seems as if they’re trying to avoid the Indiana-Paul George situation.

Regardless, 76ers’ fans, trust the process as always, it might land you Markelle Fultz instead of Jimmy Butler.

Home/NBA Trade Rumors