Chicago Bulls Choose A Direction; Trade Butler To Timberwolves

Chicago Bulls fans are mixed in their response to the 2017 NBA Draft night deal that sent Jimmy Butler and the #16 Pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, and the #7 Pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

With the #7 Pick, the Chicago Bulls selected Lauri Markkanen, a 7' 0" PF out of Arizona.

Zach Lavine, along with Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen, represent the "New Direction" of the Chicago Bulls.

In their post-draft interview, the Chicago Bulls front office described the moves as the result of "choosing a direction" in which they will be guiding the team along with head coach Fred Hoiberg.

The Chicago Bulls are hoping that Dunn, Lavine, and Markkanen will be significant building blocks in jump-starting their plan to rebuild, focusing mostly through the draft.

The trade essentially resurrected a draft night deal potentially on the table last year between the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves, although the Bulls were rumored to have been pushing for Andrew Wiggins to be included in the deal.

While response to the deal was mixed, the majority of fans were displeased with the deal. Jimmy Butler was a great Chicago Bulls player in his prime, but without better talent around him, the team would have continued to be damned to mediocrity.

Other fans were displeased by the return the Chicago Bulls received for their two time All-Star.

Whatever your feeling, we will be united in the hope that while the next few seasons may bring few wins, there will be many Markkanen threes, Zach Lavine dunks, and high draft picks to get us through.

What do you think of the Jimmy Butler trade or the new "direction" of the Chicago Bulls? Please let us know what you think in the comments below!

2017 CHICAGO BULLS NBA OFF-SEASON: Chicago Bulls Trade Jimmy Butler

The Chicago Bulls have traded Jimmy Butler for a package of young players and two high picks in the 2017 NBA Draft.

As a Chicago Bulls fan, and a huge fan of Jimmy Butler, I know that this is the move that is the best for the Chicago Bulls at this time.

The Chicago Bulls trade Jimmy Butler for a package to young players and picks in this year's NBA Draft.

The Chicago Bulls must trade Jimmy Butler.

But for some reason, after the departure of Tom Thibodeau, this front office has made a string of questionable moves, beginning with the hiring of Fred Hoiberg to replace Thibs.

It was obvious that the Chicago Bulls needed to go into rebuild mode since last off-season, but the signing of Dwyane Wade has locked the Bulls into a path that will require the team to keep Jimmy Butler and challenge for a championship, but without the quality coaching and system in place to make it happen.

The Chicago Bulls must trade Jimmy Butler.

And these are the deals that the Chicago Bulls could make:

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

We know that Tom Thibodeau loves Jimmy Butler, and with the young talent they have amassed, Minnesota has a high draft pick and young assets to acquire Butler to add to the core of Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony-Townes.

Minnesota gets:
Jimmy Butler

Chicago gets:
Zach Lavine or Gorgiu Dieng, Kris Dunn or Shabazz Muhammed, and #7 Pick


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The 76ers are another team that has stockpiled young assets and draft picks. With Ben Simmons and their young athletic bigs in the fold, adding Jimmy Butler to the mix would signal that ownership is cashing in their chips and seeing how good this talented team can be.

Philadelphia gets:
Jimmy Butler

Chicago gets:
Dario Saric or Richaun Holmes, Timothe Luwawu or Jahlil Okafor, and #3 Pick


LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The Lakers are rumored to have not been impressed by their workout of Lonzo Ball, causing not only Ball's stock to drop but to also set up the potential for trading for the #2 Pick owned by the Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are also rumored to be coveting a star in order to draw Paul George or another free agent to Hollywood.

Los Angeles gets:
Jimmy Butler

Chicago gets:
Julius Randle or Brandon Ingram, DeAngelo Russell or Jordan Clarkson, #2 Pick


BOSTON CELTICS

The Celtics have been hard to read just as fans are split about being aggressive in challenging Lebron and the Cavaliers or adopting a strategy to win when Lebron's skills begins to diminish. If the Celtics avoid the cowardly approach and work to add Jimmy Butler and potentially Gordon Heyward to the mix, they can and will supplant Cleveland in the East.

Boston gets:
Jimmy Butler

Chicago gets:
Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, #1 Pick


What do you think? Should the Chicago Bulls trade Jimmy Butler? Which trade would you do? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

DeMarcus Cousins To Chicago Bulls Rumors Heating Up Amid Dominant Olympic Play

The Chicago Bulls' pursuit of a deal for DeMarcus Cousins has definitely heated up, with the Chicago Bulls making an aggressive bid to land Team USA's big man in a trade before the season begins.

DeMarcus Cousins wants out of Sacramento. Might the Chicago Bulls engineer a way to land one of the top big men in the NBA?

The Sacramento Kings front office is still hoping that the minor off-season tweaks along with the signing of new head coach David Joerger (and the firing of former head coach George Karl) will be enough to give DeMarcus Cousins renewed interest in trying to make it work in Sacramento.

After another disappointing season of missing the playoffs, Cousins was very short with reporters trying to get a story during Team USA's scrimmages going into the Rio 2016 Olympics, giving the impression that DeMarcus Cousins, after his 5th season in the NBA, was finally sick of the losing.

However, even with all of the off-season changes, the Sacramento Kings are more likely than not to be back in the lottery; ESPN's early NBA predictions have the Kings finishing with a 30-52 record, and ranking 13th (or 3rd worst) in the Western Conference.

And while the Kings didn't do much better than that last season, they managed to finish 10th with a record of 33-49, and actually got within sniffing distance of a playoff berth.

They lost a lot of games, but during the season, Cousins found a kindred spirit in fellow "hard-head" Rajon Rondo. The two had a good relationship in Rondo's only season with the Kings, and on the court, it was a very productive relationship, with Rondo leading the NBA in assists with 11.9 per game and Cousins averaging a career-high 26.9 points per game (4th leading scorer in NBA).

With such great on the court chemistry, to pair DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo together on the court again has not only been fueling NBA trade rumors, but it is heating up trade talks between the Chicago Bulls and the Sacramento Kings.

There is also the small matter of the Sacramento Kings' first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft that will convey to the Chicago Bulls unless it is a Top 10 pick.

While ESPN's early preseason rankings have the Sacramento Kings finishing in the bottom third in the Western Conference and picking between #5-#10, if they happen to win a few more than expected, the Kings will have to relinquish the pick to Chicago.

So if the Kings aren't able to get DeMarcus Cousins to buy into their long-term plans, they may have to reluctantly put the big man on the market.

The Kings would likely ask for a ransom for Cousins, and with other teams in the hunt with young assets, like Boston and the Lakers, the Chicago Bulls would have a very slim chance at landing him.

However, with Rondo and Wade in the fold recruiting Cousins, they could sell him on an offensively-focused team that will challenge for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. And if sold, Cousins would be able to force his way to the Chicago Bulls, particularly next season, when he will be in the final year of his current contract.

What do you think of DeMarcus Cousins potentially joining the Chicago Bulls? Would the Chicago Bulls be better than the Cleveland Cavaliers if DeMarcus Cousins joined Rondo, Wade, and Butler? Let us know what you think in the comments!

CHICAGO BULLS OFF-SEASON REPORT: Boston Celtics Will Now Prioritze Completing Jimmy Butler Deal

Many teams were disappointed by the outcome of Kevin Durant's decision to go to Golden State, including the Boston Celtics.

However, while the other teams lick their wounds, the Boston Celtics can't stop to feel sorry for themselves because unlike the other spurned Kevin Durant suitors, they are in good shape.

After Kevin Durant agrees to go to Golden State, Jimmy Butler just hit the top of the Boston Celtics priority list.

They finished the 2015-16 campaign with a record of 48-34, tying 3 other teams for 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference behind Toronto and Cleveland.

They accomplished this without the benefit of a superstar player, although Isaiah Thomas was named to his first All-Star team.

This off-season, they added #3 Overall Pick Jaylen Brown, and this week, they agreed on a deal with free agent, Al Horford.

And of course, they still play in the under-talented Eastern Conference.

So after missing out on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, the Celtics' front office has now made the acquisition of Jimmy Butler their primary off-season focus.

Adding Jimmy Butler to their current mix of players will make them a legitimate threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In exchange, the Chicago Bulls must get an absolute haul in talent and draft picks in exchange for their 26 year old superstar.

The Chicago Bulls must set the price for Jimmy Butler at two to three young starters and a 2017 First Round Draft Pick.

With that said, the Boston Celtics could easily come up with a package including Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Jared Sullinger, and their 2017 NBA Draft Pick that can be exchanged with Brooklyn's.

The Boston Celtics would have a starting line-up of:

• PG    Thomas
• SG    Bradley
• SF    Butler
• PF    Horford
• C    Olynyk

The Chicago Bulls would be in full rebuild mode with young players to develop and draft picks to upgrade talent in the 2017 NBA Draft.

And with only one dominant team in the Eastern Conference, acquiring Jimmy Butler would not only put Boston on the same level as Cleveland, it would put them over the top, so it would be a deal that they will have to consider.

What are your thoughts about this potential deal from the Boston Celtics to acquire Jimmy Butler? Would you do the deal or what would you propose as a counteroffer? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

CHICAGO BULLS OFF-SEASON REPORT: Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and the Chicago Bulls

It is with a bittersweet feeling that I am pondering the pending free agency of Kevin Durant.

Was it a mere two years ago that the Chicago Bulls were in the hunt for possibly signing Carmelo Anthony to form a Chicago Bulls Big Three along with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler.

It makes the drop-off of this past season even more painful when considering, if they were competitive like the Chicago Bulls always were under Tom Thibodeau, would the Chicago Bulls have been able to make a serious run at getting Kevin Durant?

Kevin Durant must weigh his options for where he has the best chance of winning an NBA Championship (ie. the Eastern Conference, for starters).

However, with the disappointing first season of the Fred Hoiberg-era and the recent trade of Derrick Rose to New York, the Chicago Bulls wouldn't know what to do with Kevin Durant if he showed up at the Berto Center with a pen ready to sign a contract.

The Chicago Bulls are not in retool mode with the departure of Derrick Rose and the pending departures of All-Star Pau Gasol and former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah; they need to go into full rebuild mode and liquidate their assets for draft picks and young players the way the Chicago Cubs have done.

We are witnessing on the North Side how well that plan is bearing out.

Going into full rebuilding mode and tanking this next season will yield a high pick in one of the potentially best draft classes of all time. Pair that with the potential of getting a first round pick in return for Butler, and the Chicago Bulls could be drafting the cornerstones of a playoff team that could be relevent in as little as 2 or 3 years.

Chicago fans waited 20 years between Michael Jordan and the Bulls' 6th Championship and the 2008 NBA Draft miracle that yielded then-future NBA MVP Derrick Rose.

With the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics as the model of rebuilding in the modern NBA, it is clear that the future is brighter for teams that hit rock bottom than for teams that linger in the middle of the road.

Keeping Jimmy Butler would make the Bulls just a little too good to have a real shot at a Top 3 pick in the NBA Draft. And if you could get a 2017 Draft Pick in return for Jimmy Buckets, especially one that could potentially be in the lottery, too, then you owe it to your fans to make that move.

So, if the Boston Celtics can get together a package of Jae Crowder, James Young, their 2017 First Round Pick, and a future First Round Pick in exchange for Jimmy Butler by June 30th, the Chicago Bulls front office might just have to pick up the phone.

And with Jimmy Butler in the fold, the Boston Celtics will have a pitch for Kevin Durant worth listening to.

And the Chicago Bulls could find themselves a mere year away from drafting two cornerstones of their team of the future.

What do you think of the rebuilding plan that the Chicago Bulls already have underway? What is the next move to get the Chicago Bulls back into the Championship hunt? Let us know in the comments below!

CHICAGO BULLS OFF-SEASON REPORT: Boston Celtics Package for Jimmy Butler Might Be Better Than Andrew Wiggins, Kris Dunn

The Chicago Bulls had a pretty nice draft night last week just by picking up Michigan State SG/SF Denzel Valentine with their #14 Overall Pick. He will surprise a lot of people, and he is multidimensional enough to push Brandon Ingram and #1 Overall Pick Ben Simmons for Rookie of the Year (you heard it here first!).

But all the buzz around the Chicago Bulls' draft night has been about the deal that didn't go down.

The right deal for Jimmy Butler will help the Chicago Bulls rebuild quickly into a contender in the East. 

After dealing Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks for Calderon, Lopez, and Jerian Grant, it would only make sense that Jimmy Butler would be on the move so that the Chicago Bulls could go into full tank and rebuild mode.

And there is no better season to challenge the Philadelphia 76ers for the hardest tankers this season, because the 2017 NBA Draft could potentially be one of the greatest drafts IN HISTORY.

Not only should the Chicago Bulls be trading away players that might appeal to teams ready to win now, but they should be going for the worst record this season, stockpiling draft picks, and getting the players that represent the future of the team the playing time and experience that they need.

So when a draft night deal didn't go down, all the talk was about who wasn't ready to make a deal between the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are still rumored to be holding Andrew Wiggins out of the deal.

But is it because there a better deal to be made?

The Boston Celtics were shopping around their substantial assets in order to lure an established star to the Boston in order to make a stronger pitch to pending unrestricted free agent Kevin Durant.

Jimmy Butler, being one of the few stars potentially available for the right offer, was allegedly commanding a package of Jae Crowder and two of Boston's four first round draft picks (#3 and #16). These picks turned into Jaylen Brown (SF, Cal) and Guerschon Yabusele (PF, France).

Not bad. But certainly less sexy than adding Andrew Wiggins to your roster.

But one of the Celtics' assets is the right to switch draft picks with the Brooklyn Nets in next year's loaded 2017 NBA Draft.

Josh Jackson is one of potentially franchise-changing prizes of the 2017 NBA Draft.

And with Brooklyn's historic ineptitude, that pick could be a top 3 pick and yield a player potentially BETTER than Andrew Wiggins.

So if the Boston Celtics were to make a strong run at the Chicago Bulls with a package centered around Jae Crowder, another young player, and their 2017 NBA Draft Pick swap, they may be able to outmanouver the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler before the free agent signing period begins July 1st.

This is, of course, when the Kevin Durant sweepstakes begins, and if the Boston Celtics can pitch KD on joining a Celtics squad boasting two All-Star teammates, it may be a VERY tempting pitch.

Meanwhile, it seems that the Minnesota Timberwolves, with young assets that "are in their control", namely Andrew Wiggins and Kris Dunn, would have the more enticing package because it offers the Chicago Bulls front office the certainty of what the asset is.

With the Boston draft pick, the potential prize could be absolutely a generational player, but it is really an unknown quantity that will be the centerpiece of the trade.

But is the incredible upside worth the huge gamble for the Chicago Bulls? Would it be worth giving up a deal for Andrew Wiggins?

Let us know what you would do: do you take the Boston Celtics deal before July 1st? Or do you pass on that to get Andrew Wiggins from the Minnesota Timberwolves?