The Chicago Bulls aren’t actively shopping All-Star guard Jimmy Butler, but they will listen to offers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly dangling the fifth pick in this summer’s NBA Draft for the 26-year-old.
Butler emerged as a two-way star under new Timberwolves president and head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Per ESPN:
The Minnesota Timberwolves are prepared to part with the No. 5 overall pick in this month’s draft, as the centerpiece of a trade package, if they can use it to construct a deal for Chicago Bulls star swingman Jimmy Butler, according to league sources.
Sources say that the Bulls naturally would demand a significant amount in return to part with Butler, which likely translates to at least one front-line player in addition to a top lottery pick this month.
The Boston Celtics, who hold the No. 3 overall pick, are also known to have trade interest in Butler, while sources say that the Bulls are highly intrigued by Providence guard Kris Dunn, who is projected to be selected in the 3-to-5 range in the June 23 draft. […] Signals from the Bulls and their Butler intentions, meanwhile, have been mixed. The club asked Butler to represent it on the dais at the May 17 draft lottery, but Bulls general manager Gar Forman — after Chicago missed the playoffs — did say shortly after the regular season ended that “we have to explore all options” when directly asked about Butler’s future as a franchise cornerstone.
