Mannix: Celtics called Bulls about Jimmy Butler at trade deadline

[chambers]

Just a bit of fuel for the fire/speculation that the player that Danny Ainge had said 'nobody had mentioned in trade rumors' at the deadline was Jimmy Butler.
Personally, I think this guy fits our identity perfectly and is a top 10 player in the NBA.
I hope they revisit this idea in the offseason, especially if our pick is #3 or worse.

This is a snippet from Mannix's article about the Bulls dumpster fire...
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-bulls-and-the-mess-they-re-in-043747909.html

Several teams called the Chicago Bulls at the deadline about the availability of Jimmy Butler.

The Boston Celtics were one of the teams to call the Bulls and were rebuffed.

Several teams are expected to try again on trading for Butler in the offseason.

The Orlando Magic are a team that several executive identified as capable of dealing for Butler.

Butler is in the first season of a five-year, $95 million contract that contains a player option after Year 4.

CHRIS MANNIX/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

[fubar089]

bring him home.

[jpotter33]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

[chambers]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

I dunno if we'd have to include one. I guess getting Butler would make Bradley expendable (to an extent) because Butler would be starting SG. Bradley would be great off the bench though.
If the Bulls were to trade Butler I think they'd be rebuilding from the ground up so having an established role player probably wouldn't be on their priority list-but they'd potentially want at least Bradley or Smart for a locker room 'leader by example' guy.

Brooklyn pick #3+Bradley/Rozier+Mavs pick for Butler?

Just imagine drafting Simmons with this years Brooklyn pick and then sending the other two Brooklyn picks+Mavs pick for Butler.

[gamehead36]

What would the trade be? Bradley/Smart and the brooklyn pick? I would love to have butler but I would rather have our assets used on a big. But if butler would net us someone like whiteside, horford or even pau, then it becomes a different conversation. This offseason is gonna be so unpredictable.

[slamtheking]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

Butler's an upgrade on everyone we have on the roster.  if we only have to give up AB or Crowder as a centerpiece to a deal, I make that deal 10 times out of 10.

the 2/3 isn't an area of strength for us.  Crowder's a 3-and-D SF.  AB is a SG just getting 3-pt range on his shot and cannot really provide any help as a ball handler or someone that can initiate the offense.  Turner has his nights but he's doesn't have them consistently and he's not a 3-pt shooter.  Jerebko really wouldn't be a rotation player on a really good team.    How exactly is this a position of depth for us?

[Vox_Populi]

Makes much more sense then Okafor that's for sure.

[alldaboston]

Makes much more sense then Okafor that's for sure.

CALLING LarBrd!!! SHOW YOURSELF!!!

[jambr380]

I think Danny has to keep Crowder. Not only he is the 'best' out of Crowder/Bradley/Smart, but he is also the only one who can slide to PF in a small-ball line-up. I agree that the Bulls would likely go into full rebuild mode, so Smart makes the most sense (over Bradley).

I also assume this would makes us much more attractive to a guy like Horford. If we can lock down two all-stars this off-season, we should consider it a very successful one. I know people would rather have Durant/Cousins instead, but this would be pretty great.

[PhoSita]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

The Celts have a wealth of guys who can play 1/2 and maybe switch onto the 3.  I don't know of anybody other than Crowder who I'd really call a swing 2/3.

My answer to this is the same as when somebody asked what would happen to Crowder if the Celts draft Ingram.  The Celts could use 4-5 guys, at least, with the Crowder / Butler skillset.

[jpotter33]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

Butler's an upgrade on everyone we have on the roster.  if we only have to give up AB or Crowder as a centerpiece to a deal, I make that deal 10 times out of 10.

the 2/3 isn't an area of strength for us.  Crowder's a 3-and-D SF.  AB is a SG just getting 3-pt range on his shot and cannot really provide any help as a ball handler or someone that can initiate the offense.  Turner has his nights but he's doesn't have them consistently and he's not a 3-pt shooter.  Jerebko really wouldn't be a rotation player on a really good team.    How exactly is this a position of depth for us?

It's a relative term, and I said strength not depth (as evidenced by Jae's absence being so brutal for us). Do you not agree that we are much stronger at the 2/3 spots than we are at the 4/5 spots? That'd be a pretty hard argument to make. I'm just saying I'd rather use our assets to pick up a big rather than a wing, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be ecstatic to have Butler here. Thus, though I'd love Butler on this team, I think using those assets for a Cousins would go much further with this team than using those assets for a Butler.

[jpotter33]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

The Celts have a wealth of guys who can play 1/2 and maybe switch onto the 3.  I don't know of anybody other than Crowder who I'd really call a swing 2/3.

My answer to this is the same as when somebody asked what would happen to Crowder if the Celts draft Ingram.  The Celts could use 4-5 guys, at least, with the Crowder / Butler skillset.

See post above. I'd just rather use our good assets to pick up a big rather than a wing, because we're more in need of a big than a wing right now.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Id imagine selling someone on Smarts "potential" in a trade of this caliber would turn out to be an ingenius move down the road.

[crimson_stallion]

I would love Butler on the C's, and I think he's a perfect fit on our team. However, does his presence make one of Crowder or Bradley expendable? We'd probably have to include one of them in a trade for Butler, right?

Also, I worry that we'd actually be trading for a guy in a position of strength of ours, i.e. the 2/3 swing position. I'd really like to use our trading chips for a big rather than a wing.

Butler's an upgrade on everyone we have on the roster.  if we only have to give up AB or Crowder as a centerpiece to a deal, I make that deal 10 times out of 10.

the 2/3 isn't an area of strength for us.  Crowder's a 3-and-D SF.  AB is a SG just getting 3-pt range on his shot and cannot really provide any help as a ball handler or someone that can initiate the offense.  Turner has his nights but he's doesn't have them consistently and he's not a 3-pt shooter.  Jerebko really wouldn't be a rotation player on a really good team.    How exactly is this a position of depth for us?

It's a relative term, and I said strength not depth (as evidenced by Jae's absence being so brutal for us). Do you not agree that we are much stronger at the 2/3 spots than we are at the 4/5 spots? That'd be a pretty hard argument to make. I'm just saying I'd rather use our assets to pick up a big rather than a wing, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be ecstatic to have Butler here. Thus, though I'd love Butler on this team, I think using those assets for a Cousins would go much further with this team than using those assets for a Butler.

I think you always take the best talent available who fits your game, plain and simple.

Butler is a HUGE upgrade for us offensively over Crowder, and yet we lose little-to-nothing on the defensive end.

He's an even bigger upgrade over Bradley.

I love both of those guys, but if trading one of them gets you Butler (a perennial two-way All Star) then it's a no brainer.

A trio of Thomas/Butler/Crowder or Thomas/Bradley/Crowder would be brutal on any opponemt.

We have the cap space to go after a 4/5 via free agency o
If need be, and with Butler added to our existing core we should becone one of the top 3-5 free agent destinations in the NBA.

[trickybilly]

bring him home.

Massachusetts connection?