Jimmy Butler Trade Rumors: Nuggets Reportedly in Contact with Bulls over Star

The Denver Nuggets are reportedly the latest in a rapidly growing list of teams to contact the Chicago Bulls about Jimmy Butler ahead of the 2017 NBA draft Thursday night.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN reported the Nuggets would center the return package on "multiple young players ... and picks," but the deal wouldn't include budding star Nikola Jokic.

Denver is in search of more star power to surround Jokic, especially with Danilo Gallinari set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Butler would fit the bill.

The 27-year-old Marquette product averaged 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists—all career-high totals—during the 2016-17 season with the Bulls. He also ranked seventh in the league in ESPN's Real Plus-Minus, one spot below Jokic.

While his arrival wouldn't be quite enough to put the Nuggets in the same category as the dominant Golden State Warriors, it would move the team closer to the second-tier contenders like the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, depending on the offseason's other moves.

Denver owns the 13th overall pick in Thursday's draft, which is a solid asset based on the class' depth, but several other pieces would likely need to be included before talks got serious.

In addition, the Nuggets are facing plenty of competition for Butler on the trade market.

Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago previously reported the Bulls are "actively shopping" the small forward heading into the draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets were listed among the interested teams.

Adrian Wojnarowski‏ of The Vertical noted the Minnesota Timberwolves have also made contact with Chicago about a potential Butler blockbuster.

More suitors could emerge if the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George before the Bulls dealt Butler since there's a lot of crossover interest in both players.