The Chicago Bulls want 2015 ROY Andrew Wiggins along with the #5 Overall Pick in exchange for two-way swingman, Jimmy Butler. |
Coming out of high school, Andrew Wiggins, with his athleticism and skill, was supposed to be the next LeBron James.
He is not on that level yet, and he may never get there on a historically bad franchise like the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, on pure potential, the 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year is as untradeable as anyone on the Timberwolves.
But it is a reasonable demand and starting place for a Jimmy Butler to Minnesota discussion.
Jimmy Butler, the 2015 Most Improved Player of the Year, is the Chicago Bulls best player, and he is the vocal leader of the team.
The front office will be building the team around Jimmy Butler, if not provided with a better option.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, and their new head coach and team president, Tom Thibodeau, by their inquiry into acquiring Jimmy Butler, is signaling that they are wanting to take the next step: compete in the Western Conference and WIN NOW.
Having gone through rebuilding and acquiring lots of young talent and nearly making the play-offs this season in the West, the team and the city are ready for the next step.
And the big decision of taking that next step is to trade some of that young talent for veteran leaders who know how to win.
In Butler, Thibs will not only be bringing in a player on the same level as Andrew Wiggins, but he is also bringing in a veteran leader and a Thibs-type of player who knows his system, giving the Timberwolves a starting line-up that will quickly contend in the West:
- PG Rubio
- SG Levine
- SF Butler
- PF Townes
- C Dieng
For the Chicago Bulls, Andrew Wiggins is a comparable basketball player to Butler, but he is younger. The Bulls would then be able to enter in to full scale rebuild around Wiggins potentially transcendent talent.
With the #5 Overall Pick, the Chicago Bulls are reportedly eyeing point guard Kris Dunn.
And if Chicago finds itself in full rebuild mode, the Bulls might also deal Derrick Rose, reportedly for one of the Philadelphia 76ers big men, or to the Los Angeles Lakers for the #2 Overall Pick.
This would give the Chicago Bulls an exciting starting line-up for the future:
- PG #5 Pick: Kris Dunn
- SG Wiggins
- SF Mirotic/ McDermott
- PF Portis
- C Nerlens Noel
So, what would such a deal look like? I think the teams could agree on a deal with Chicago sending Jimmy Butler and the 14th Overall Pick to Minnesota in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and the 5th Overall Pick. With the 14th Pick, Minnesota could add another rotation player/ role player to their bench to back up a very talented starting 5.
What do you think of this potential trade? Let us know if you would take this deal in the comments below! Why or Why Not?