NBA Trade Rumors: Reviewing Latest Reports Before 2017 Deadline Passes
Will Jimmy Butler end up in Boston with the Celtics, or will he remain with the Chicago Bulls through the end of the season?
That question will be answered shortly after the 3 p.m. trade deadline Thursday afternoon.
It seems the rumors involving the Chicago superstar and the Celtics have been going for months, and clearly the two sides are at least a fairly good match for each other. The Celtics may be one strong player away from being able to compete with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference title, while the Bulls are seemingly willing to go into a rebuild mode.
The Bulls missed the playoffs last season, and they are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff rankings this year. That position is not secure, and this inconsistent team could easily miss out again with just a small downturn.
However, even if they do make the playoffs, they don't appear to have the consistency to get out of the first round.
Chicago management is apparently willing to trade Butler, and the Celtics have control of the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick. That choice could turn out to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.
So, that's the start of a deal between Chicago and Boston, but it's not simply a matter of trading the No. 1 pick in this year's draft and a few bit parts for Butler.
According to NBA insider David Aldridge (through Boston journalist Brian Robb), the Bulls are looking for more. Aldridge contends that the Bulls want a starter such as Jae Crowder in addition to that premium draft choice.
Danny Ainge, Celtics president of basketball operations, knows the Celtics would be a stronger and more dangerous team with Butler, but they would weaken themselves by trading an established player like Crowder. Ainge has to decide if the net gain would be worth the impact of losing a strong player like Crowder in the locker room.
The 6'6" Crowder is averaging 13.8 points per game and connecting on 46.9 percent of his shots from the field. He is a also a competent rebounder on a team that is weak in that area.
The other huge potential move for the Celtics is a trade for Paul George of the Indiana Pacers. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical, the Nets' pick entered the conversation regarding a potential trade late Thursday morning.
While the potential Butler/George trades are the most impactful potential moves at the trade deadline, there are others that also could take place as the deadline approaches.
The Detroit Pistons are open to the possibility of trading big man Andre Drummond and swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
The Pistons are not necessarily committed to trading either player, but Stein reports they are not going to reject any overtures from teams that want to make serious offers.
Additionally, the Pistons are not far from dealing guard Reggie Jackson, and Stein reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves probably have the best chance of completing a deal. The Orlando Magic were also in the picture, but that team's interest is fading.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are also giving strong consideration to making a trade and improving their depth at the point guard position. Stein reports that the Cavs have an interest in Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley.
The Cavaliers could decide to part with Iman Shumpert, a 6'5" swing guard who is averaging 7.8 points per game and shooting 42.5 percent from the field.
