NBA Rumors: Celtics To Pursue Jimmy Butler Before NBA Trade Deadline?

The NBA trade deadline is still a few weeks away with teams around the league having until Feb. 23 to make moves to improve their roster. Potential title contenders, like the Boston Celtics, with assets like draft picks to spare, may go after a major piece to their championship puzzle with Jimmy Butler potentially being there for the taking.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Butler could very well be headed to Beantown if the two teams strike up trade talks once again:

There are rival executives who believe the Bulls and Celtics will rekindle trade talks centered on Jimmy Butler before the Feb. 23 deadline. The teams held serious talks in June, and the Celtics own the same assets — Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart, the Nets’ first-round picks in 2017 and 2018 — the teams discussed then.

With the Bulls quickly becoming one of the most dysfunctional teams in the league at this point in the season, the team’s front office may be ready to make some moves. The team is currently one game under .500 and nowhere near living up to expectations that were given after the arrival of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo alongside Butler.

The Celtics, however, are playing well behind up-and-comer Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford and could use a player of Butler’s caliber to propel them over the top while setting up a promising future under head coach Brad Stevens.

Although there’s been a lot of talk about a potential Carmelo Anthony deal, Butler would be a much better addition considering his youth and being in his prime and a player that prides himself on playing hard-nosed defense.

If Chicago likes what Boston is selling this time around, Butler could easily be wearing green after the NBA trade deadline expires on Feb. 23.