NBA Rumors: Latest on Potential Jimmy Butler Trade and Draft Buzz

Given the fact the Golden State Warriors lost back-to-back games once all season, it's more likely than not the 2015-16 campaign will end Thursday night.

If that happens, the NBA coverage does not cease. It only begins. The busiest time of the year for NBA scribes and fans comes in the immediate aftermath of the NBA Finals, when the draft and free agency wash over the sport like a tidal wave.

We know LSU's Ben Simmons and Duke's Brandon Ingram will be the first players off the board. That's been a virtual certainty for months. But given the steep drop-off after this draft's top two players, everything after pick No. 2 comes with a gigantic question mark attached. Teams like the Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves are also in a position to accelerate their team-building efforts and could look to move their picks for a veteran player.

If recent rumors are to be believed, Minnesota and Boston have focused their efforts on the same player. Here's a look at those rumors and the latest draft buzz around the Association.

Bulls Not Trading Butler to MIN Without Wiggins; Celtics Involved

The biggest name making trade rounds at the moment is Chicago Bulls All-Star Jimmy Butler. The All-Defensive selection had a tense relationship with first-year coach Fred Hoiberg all season, and there have been rumors of dissent between Butler and Derrick Rose for more than a year.

As it stands, the Bulls are coming off a wildly disappointing 42-40 season, and teams smell blood in the water. ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford reported the Timberwolves have made the No. 5 pick available in a potential Butler package.

New Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau coached Butler for his first four seasons in Chicago. Butler wasn't shy about sharing his admiration for his former coach, either, when speaking to reporters at his season-ending press conference.

One issue: No. 5 in a two-player draft isn't getting the job done. The Timberwolves have a stable of promising young talent, but their willingness to deal likely depends on Chicago's asking price. Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN reported the Bulls aren't budging without Andrew Wiggins being part of the deal, which has about a negative infinity chance of happening.

Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are and should be untouchables. They're the foundation of what's coming next in Minnesota. Any decision Thibodeau makes should be to accentuate their strengths rather than subtracting them from the franchise. If you make this Zach LaVine and No. 5, it's more intriguing but not enough to get the Bulls to bite.

Ford and Stein also noted the Celtics have a natural interest in Butler. They need help on the defensive wing and a foundational star. You can't win a championship with Butler as your best player, but head coach Brad Stevens pulled off 48 wins with Isaiah Thomas as his best guy. Butler's enough to make the Celts a legit conference finalist threat in the East.

Boston also has a ton of other goodies available, with five of the first 35 picks in this year's draft. Is No. 3, No. 16, No. 23 and Avery Bradley enough to get the Bulls to bite? If it is, the Celtics could essentially punt this year's draft for Butler and still have enough assets lying around to add another star via trade later this summer or a year from now.

Other Draft Buzz

Bulls Would Target Kris Dunn If They Moved Up to No. 3

This is according to Ford and Stein. Dunn fits in with the uptempo style Hoiberg would prefer to run if his college offense is any indication. The Providence guard is made for the NBA game, equipped with elite slash-and-kick ability, an improved jump shot and excellent length (6'9 ½" wingspan) and athleticism.

You know, kind of like Rose used to be. The Bulls targeting a point guard should come as no surprise given the deterioration of the relationship between Rose and his hometown franchise. When Rose admitted to looking ahead to his 2017 free agency despite barely being able to stay on the floor the past few years, it was enough that some fans gave up hope.

Rose has spent most of the last two years as a shell of himself, and it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if he was the one sent packing. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported the Bulls are "actively open" to trading Rose.

Hip Hurting Ulis' Stock; Knee Causing Valentine Slide

According to Kyler, Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis is reportedly dealing with a hip condition that could require surgery. Already facing an uphill battle with some teams due to his diminutive size (5'10", 149 lbs), Ulis has a real shot at dropping into the second round.

That would be a mistake given the lack of talent in this class, but the list of players at Ulis' size who have had NBA success is slim. He's got the game of a top-five pick if he were 6'2", equipped with blazing speed off the dribble, a good three-point shot and passing vision of someone of above-average height. The physical disadvantage is going to be a problem from the moment he steps into the league, though, and any hip problem will only exacerbate concerns.

Michigan State swingman Denzel Valentine reportedly has a "fairly significant knee issue," which Kyler compares to Danny Granger's degenerative condition. Granger, remember, was a star at 28 and barely playable at 30 due to his knee issues. Valentine underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in December but missed all of four games.

I've been on record calling Valentine one of my favorite players in the entire draft, but the words "degenerative knee issue" are scary for any prospect. If he falls into the 20s, you have to grab him. My stance as him as a no-doubt-about-it lottery guy is softening, though.

Ben Simmons Won't Work Out for NBA Teams Prior to Draft

This is according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. This is more of a mild annoyance than anything. Simmons' camp has been protecting him throughout this process, and for good reason. It's known for two years he'd be the top pick in 2016—even though Ingram has encroached on that status.

Simmons spent his entire one-season stop at LSU being scrutinized for all of his shortcomings, notably his shooting, lack of aggressiveness and team struggles. While he likely wouldn't say it, being in college was probably a miserable experience for Simmons. He hightailed it out of school the first chance he got and got to doing what he's meant to do: becoming a professional basketball player.

No outcome here is bad. Either Simmons is the No. 1 overall pick, or he becomes a Los Angeles Laker. There is really no point in him working out for any team outside of professional courtesy.