Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Bulls Reportedly Actively Shopping Star

As most of the basketball world intently awaits a Paul George trade, the Chicago Bulls have reportedly made star Jimmy Butler available as well.

Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago reported Tuesday that the Bulls are "actively" shopping Butler prior to the 2017 NBA draft on Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This runs contrary to previous trade talks in which the Bulls were passive listeners to other teams' offerings.

The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are the clear top two contenders for Butler, who has made the last three Eastern Conference All-Star teams and was a third-team All-NBA selection in 2016-17.

According to Goodwill, the Celtics were not interested, however, when the Bulls attempted to swap Butler for the No. 3 overall pick.

Butler's contract makes him far more valuable—and thus harder to trade for—than George. Whereas George will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, Butler's deal has two more guaranteed seasons before he can opt out in 2019.

Goodwill's report said the Bulls front office wishes to "free" head coach Fred Hoiberg of Butler after two years of trying (and failing) to build a strong relationship. Chicago has gone 83-81 under Hoiberg after winning at least 45 games in each of Tom Thibodeau's five years with the team.

Trading Butler at this juncture should be the beginning of a full-scale rebuild. The Bulls aimlessly treaded water last season with a crowded veteran backcourt and probably the worst shooting roster in the league. 

A Butler trade may also allow the Bulls to get out from under Dwyane Wade's contract for next season. Even if Wade is looking at a steep pay cut in free agency, he isn't likely to want to play for a team that will win 25-30 games. ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne reported Wade is leaning toward opting into his $24 million option in 2017-18 "regardless of what the Bulls do" in regard to Butler.               

Butler and Wade are known to have a close relationship, though, with the former helping recruit the latter from the Miami Heat, per Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. If Butler winds up going before Thursday, Wade could change his mind before his June 27 decision date.