NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Trading Jimmy Butler To Los Angeles Lakers

NBA rumors are swirling around Jimmy Butler. Apparently, the Chicago Bulls are now open to the idea of trading their franchise player this summer. The team would much rather not lose one of the best two-way players in the National Basketball Association, but they also know that doing so would give them the best chance at rebuilding quickly. According to Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers could be his next destination. The franchise is desperate to rebuild quickly, so acquiring a top talent like Butler would definitely accelerate that.

Things aren’t where they need to be with the Chicago Bulls. A team that was supposed to go deep into the NBA Playoffs is currently sitting on the outside looking in. Even if the Bulls somehow surge past the Detroit Pistons or Indiana Pacers, they’re unlikely to overcome the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers for a chance to play in the NBA Finals.

When you look below the surface, the Chicago Bulls are pretty much a damaged team. Derrick Rose is the former league MVP who is no longer the player that he used to be. Joakim Noah has been stripped of his role as a franchise building block and could be out the door this summer. Pau Gasol is still playing well, but he’s already thinking about his next NBA team. Jimmy Butler is the superstar, but he and head coach Fred Hoiberg have butted heads.

To accelerate things, the Chicago Bulls need to get rid of all their veteran players. Build around Bobby Portis, their six-foot, 11-inch, 230-pound power forward. He’s just 21-years-old, so the best move would be to find a superstar guard that can grow with him. Jimmy Butler is 26-years-old and heading into the prime of his NBA career. He needs to be on a team that can compete right now.

Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah are essentially out the door. Both guys are expected to leave the Chicago Bulls in free agency this summer. Gasol has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank, making the All Star team in February. Any legitimate NBA contender will want to schedule a visit with him to discuss a contract. Noah has a chip on his shoulders, and he can definitely be of some assistance to those looking to win a championship.

A potentially good fit for Bobby Portis is D’Angelo Russell. He’s a 20-year-old point guard who is a former second overall selection in the NBA Draft. Russell has got all the talent in the world. He simply needs a new place to play after being embroiled in a controversy with Nick Young. The Chicago Bulls can provide Russell with the fresh start that he needs and a big sidekick in Portis.

There’s really no way for the Los Angeles Lakers to replace Kobe Bryant, and management fully knows that. However, the blow would be quite cushioned if you can get someone as talented as Jimmy Butler on the team. His level of competitiveness should already be familiar to members of the Lakers that have been around Bryant for the past two decades. Butler wants to win, as evident by the fact that he complained that Fred Hoiberg was not being strict enough on his Chicago Bulls teammates.

NBA teams don’t generally like to start over, but sometimes it is a necessary evil. Giving up a high draft pick like D’Angelo Russell is hard. Letting a legitimate two-way All Star like Jimmy Butler move on is rough as well. However, this seems like something that the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls could both benefit from.